Atom-efficient arylation of N-tosylimines mediated by cooperative ZnAr2/Zn(C6F5)2 combinations.

By combining the Lewis acid Zn(C6F5)2 with nucleophilic diarylzinc (ZnAr2) reagents, we report the atom-efficient arylation of N-tosylimines under mild conditions. Mechanistic studies through the isolation of key intermediates reveal how the two zinc species act cooperatively to activate the imine substrate and regenerate the ZnAr2 reagent, enabling a limiting 50 mol% to be employed.