An efficient synthesis of diarylmethane derivatives from phenol and a p-quinone methide surrogate cyclohexadienone derivative has been described. This 1,6-conjugate addition reaction is catalyzed by earth abundant FeCl3 and it proceeds via a consecutive Michael type addition followed by aromatization. Various proportions of phenol and cyclohexadienone produced exclusively mono, bis and tris addition products. Interestingly, di-tert-butylphenol gave addition product with concomitant loss of one of the tertiary butyl groups of the phenol moiety via retro-Friedel-Crafts reaction. This strategy demonstrates a straightforward access to wide range of diarylmethane derivatives possessing biologically significant ortho-methoxyphenol moiety under mild reaction conditions. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd