Abstract
A combination of pentafluorophenylboronic acid and oxalic acid catalyses the dehydrative substitution of benzylic alcohols with a second alcohol to form new C−O bonds. This method has been applied to the intermolecular substitution of benzylic alcohols to form symmetrical ethers, intramolecular cyclisations of diols to form aryl-substituted tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydropyran derivatives, and intermolecular crossed-etherification reactions between two different alcohols. Mechanistic control experiments have identified a potential catalytic intermediate formed between the aryl boronic acid and oxalic acid.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 3950-3956 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Chemistry - A European Journal |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 15 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 12 Mar 2019 |
Keywords
- alcohols
- boronic acids
- etherification
- homogeneous catalysis
- substitution
- pentafluorophenylboronic acid
- oxalic acid
- intermolecular substitution
- intramolecular cyclisations