LAH aryl alkyl ether cleavage of BINOL derivatives

Herein we report the cleaving of aryl alkyl ethers on BINOL derivatives, using the common reducing agent LAH. The cleavage of the alkyl oxygen bond is observed when the BINOL derivative is treated with LAH, in refluxing dioxane, for 60 h. The resulting BINOL derivative can then be re-alkylated using a standard Williamson ether synthesis. The same procedure was tested on 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid derivatives and cleavage was not observed, thus suggesting a chelating mechanism for the BINOL ether cleavage.