Scheme 2.

Direct functionalization of benzyl ether to aryl silane[a] [a] Conditions: substrate (0.1 mmol), Et3SiBPin (1.3 equiv), Ni(cod)2 (0.1 equiv), tBuOK (2.2 equiv), toluene ([substrate]=0.1 mol dm−3), RT, 3 h. e.r. determined by chiral stationary phase HPLC. Yields are for isolated and purified materials.