Transition-Metal-Free C–H Arylation of Unactivated Arenes with 8-Hydroxyquinoline as a Promoter

A method for the transition-metal-free direct C–H arylation of unactivated arenes is developed with aryl bromides as substrates and 8-hydroxyquinoline as an efficient promoter. A variety of biaryl compounds with structural diversity are obtained in moderate to high yields. Mechanistic studies reveal that the reaction proceeds via a homolytic­ aromatic substitution pathway.