Fig. 2.

Benzylic deprotonation and related chemistry. a Arylation of allyl benzene. b Arylation of transition metal-activated toluene derivatives, c catalytic arene activation with a ruthenium complex. d Catalytic deprotonation of allyl benzene and imine addition. e Catalytic 1,4-addition reaction with alkylazaarenes by Kobayshi and co-workers. f Catalytic addition of benzylic C–Hs to styrenes by Guan and co-workers. g Related chemistry with more acidic 2-methyl pyridine. h Traditional approach from Hart and co-workers. i Aminobenzylation of aldehydes (this work). j 1,2-Diphenylethylamine-based drugs and natural products