Synthesis of 4a–4y^a.

Entry	1, Ar =	2, Ar′ =	4b, (%)
1	1a, Ph	2a, Ph	4a, 81
2	1a, Ph	2b, 4-MeOC6H4	4b, 82
3	1a, Ph	2c, 3-MeOC6H4	4c, 80
4	1a, Ph	2d, 3,4,5-(MeO)3C6H2	4d, 78
5	1a, Ph	2e, 2,3,4-(MeO)3C6H2	4e, 72
6	1a, Ph	2f, 3,4-CH2O2C6H3	4f, 73
7	1a, Ph	2g, 4-PhC6H4	4g, 80
8	1a, Ph	2h, 3,4-(MeO)2C6H3	4h, 72
9	1a, Ph	2i, 3,4-Cl2C6H3	4i, 78
10	1a, Ph	2a, Ph	4j, 80
11	1b, 4-MeOC6H4	2a, Ph	4k, 76
12	1c, 3-MeOC6H4	2a, Ph	4l, 68
13	1d, 3-MeO-5-HOC6H3	2a, Ph	4m, 64
14	1e, 3,5-(MeO)2C6H3	2j, 4-NO2C6H4	4n, 76
15	1a, Ph	2k, 2-naphthyl	4o, 70
16	1a, Ph	2l, 2-FC6H4	4p, 67
17	1a, Ph	2m, 2-furyl	4q, 60c
18	1a, Ph	2n, 2-thienyl	4r, 62
19	1a, Ph	2o, 1-naphthyl	4s, 75
20	1f, 4-FC6H4	2h, 3,4-(MeO)2C6H3	4t, 73
21	1g, 4-ClC6H4	2h, 3,4-(MeO)2C6H3	4u, 72
22	1h, 4-BrC6H4	2h, 3,4-(MeO)2C6H3	4v, 66
23	1i, 4-MeC6H4	2h, 3,4-(MeO)2C6H3	4w, 74
24	1c, 3-MeOC6H4	2h, 3,4-(MeO)2C6H3	4x, 64
25	1j, 3-MeO-2-HOC6H3	2a, Ph	4y, 60
26	1k, 2-NO2C6H4	2a, Ph	4z, —d

^aAll reactions were run on a 1.0 mmol scale with phenols 1a–1k, cinnamoyl chlorides (2a–2o, 1.0 equiv.), BiCl₃ (315 mg, 1.0 equiv.), CCl₄ (20 mL), 10 h, reflux (77 °C); then RuCl₃·3H₂O (261 mg, 1.0 equiv.) was added into the reaction mixture, 5 h, reflux (monitored by TLC).

^bIsolated yields.

^c3q (10%) was obtained.

^dNo detection.