Selective benzylic C-C coupling catalyzed by a bioinspired dicopper complex

A highly preorganized bioinspired dicopper complex with imidazole ligation catalyzes the selective benzylic para-C-H activation of 2,4,6-trimethylphenol under aerobic conditions, yielding either the stilbenequinone or 4-methoxymethyl-2,6-dimethylphenol depending on the solvent used.