Development of efficient CuI-catalyzed synthesis of aryl ethers

ORGN 128

Felix N Ngassa, ngassaf@gvsu.edu and Erick Lindsey, ngassaf@gvsu.edu. Department of Chemistry, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI 49401
Much interest has been vested into the synthesis of the aryl ether linkage, which is commonly found in a large number of biologically active molecules. The traditional Ullmann coupling method for ether synthesis and palladium-catalyzed ether synthesis have limited applications. An efficient catalytic system has been developed for the synthesis of aryl ethers from various substituted phenol derivatives and aryl halides. The effect of different ligands, base, and solvent on the coupling of substituted phenol derivatives and aryl halides was investigated, as well as the effect of the amount of CuI and ligand. The results of our optimization studies will be presented.