“…In the current era, new reactions for regio-and chemoselective direct functionalization of arenes through C À H bond activation, largely based on transition metal catalysis, have revolutionized the preparation of aromatic derivatives. [2,3] Despite these advances, there remains an unmet synthetic need for refinements to the more economical Friedel-Crafts reaction to improve its substrate scope, operational simplicity, and sustainability, particularly for substitutions of electron-deficient substrates. [4] Herein we document a new approach to Friedel-Crafts benzylations that operates with both electron-deficient electrophiles and nucleophiles, proceeds under mild, simple conditions, and does not require the use of aluminum or other metal reagents or catalysts (Scheme 1).…”