Unsymmetrical diaryl ethers were efficiently obtained in good yields by the reactions of aryl(4-methoxyphenyl)iodonium tosylates with phenols, and aryl(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)iodonium tosylates with phenols, in the presence of potassium carbonate in acetonitrile, respectively. The latter iodonium tosylates provided the corresponding unsymmetrical diaryl ethers in good yields with high regioselectivities, together with the quantitative formation of 1-iodo-2,4-dimethoxybenzene.
Key words
unsymmetrical diaryliodonium tosylate - unsymmetrical diaryl ether - aryl(4-methoxyphenyl)iodonium tosylate - aryl(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)iodonium tosylate