Synthesis 2006(14): 2271-2285  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-942440
REVIEW
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Recent Progress in Diaryl Ether Synthesis

Rok Frlan, Danijel Kikelj*
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Fax: +386(1)4258031; e-Mail: danijel.kikelj@ffa.uni-lj.si;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 6 December 2005
Publication Date:
29 June 2006 (online)

Abstract

Diaryl ethers form an important class of organic compounds, both in life sciences and in the polymer industry. In general, diaryl ethers can be synthesized by means of copper-catalyzed Ullmann diaryl ether coupling, palladium-catalysed Buchwald-Hartwig reaction, nucleophilic aromatic substitution, arylboronic acid diaryl ether coupling, oxidative coupling, and nucleophilic aromatic addition to metal-arene complexes. This review covers the progress in diaryl ether synthesis since 1999, with literature coverage through September 2005.

  • 1 Introduction

  • 2 Ullmann and Buchwald-Hartwig Diaryl Ether Coupling Reactions

  • 2.1 Intermolecular Ullmann Diaryl Ether Coupling Reactions

  • 2.2 Intermolecular Palladium-Catalyzed Diaryl Ether Coupling Reactions

  • 2.3 Intramolecular Palladium- and Copper-Mediated Diaryl Ether Coupling Reactions

  • 3 Synthesis of Diaryl Ethers via Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution

  • 3.1 Intermolecular Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution

  • 3.2 Intramolecular Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution

  • 4 Coupling of Phenols with Arylboronic Acids

  • 4.1 Intermolecular Coupling of Phenols with Arylboronic Acids

  • 4.2 Intramolecular Coupling of Phenols with Arylboronic Acids

  • 5 Diaryl Ether Synthesis via Benzyne Mechanism

  • 6 SnAr Additions to Metal-Arene Complexes

  • 6.1 Intermolecular SnAr Additions to Metal-Arene Complexes

  • 6.2 Intramolecular SnAr Additions to Metal-Arene Complexes

  • 7 Diaryl Ether Synthesis via Oxidative Coupling

  • 8 Diaryl Ether Synthesis by Fischer Chromium Carbene Mediated Benzannulation

  • 9 Summary