Abstract: | A breakthrough in the synthesis of diaryl ethers has been achieved as shown in Equation (1). The coupling of phenols with aryl boronic acids in the presence of copper(II ) acetate and a base proceeds under very mild conditions (room temperature) as described simultaneously by Evans et al. and Chan et al. Examples: R1=2-Cl, 2-I, 2-OMe, 4-tBu, 4-CH2CH(NHCOOtBu)CO2Me, 3,5-tBu2; R2=2-Me, 3-OMe, 3-NO2, 4-H, 4-F, 4-OMe. |