Direct intermolecular C–H arylation of unactivated arenes with aryl bromides catalysed by 2-pyridyl carbinol

Direct intermolecular C-H arylation employing aryl bromide as the arene source has been developed. This process proceeds via a simple transition-metal-free pathway. With the aid of inexpensive and commercially available 2-pyridyl carbinol and potassium tert-butoxide, various unactivated arene C-H bonds can be directly arylated by aryl bromides through homolytic aromatic substitution.