Unsymmetrical polyaryls are electrosynthesized in liquid ammonia by a
single-step S(RN)1 reaction in the presence of a redox mediator starti
ng from aromatic halides and 2,6-di-tert-butyl phenoxide. With monoary
l halides activated by electron-withdrawing substituents (N of pyridyl
or quinolyl, trifluoromethyl, cyano, sulfone, ester, ketone, alkyl su
lfide, N+ of anilinium), biaryls are obtained in good yields (between
50 and 95%). The yields of ter- and quateraryls are lower (40% maximum
). The reaction is extended to other ortho-disubstituted phenols. Elim
ination reactions of the tert-butyl groups from the products are achie
ved by a Friedel-Crafts reaction using either trifluoromethanesulfonic
acid or aluminum trichloride as catalysts.