Cu-Mn spinel oxide catalyzed regioselective halogenation of phenols and N-heteroarenes

A novel simple, mild chemo- and regioselective method has been developed for the halogenation of phenols using Cu-Mn spinel oxide as a catalyst and N-halosuccinimide as halogenating agent. In the presence of Cu-Mn spinel oxide B, both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups bearing phenols gave monohalogenated products in good to excellent yields with highest para-selectivity. The para-substituted phenol gave monohalogenated product with good yield and ortho-selectivity. N-Heteroarenes such as indoles and imidazoles also gave monohalogenated products with high selectivity. Unlike the copper-catalyzed halogenation, the present method works well with electron-withdrawing group bearing phenols and gives comparatively better yields and selectivity. The Cu-Mn spinel catalyst is robust and reused three times under optimized conditions without any loss in catalytic activity. Nonphenolics did not undergo this transformation.