Copper(II) NHC Catalyst for the Formation of Phenol from Arylboronic Acid

Arylboronic acids are commonly used in modern organic chemistry to form new C–C and C–heteroatom bonds. These activated synthons show reactivity with heteroatoms a range of substrates under ambient oxidative conditions. This broad has limited their use protic, renewable solvents like water, ethanol, methanol. Here, we report our efforts study optimize the activation arylboronic by copper(II) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex aqueous solution alcohols generate phenol aryl ethers, respectively. The optimized showcases ability make targeted C–O bonds, but also identifies conditions where water alcohol could be limiting for bond-forming reactions. shows strong toward acid medium at temperature. relationship between product formation temperature catalyst loading described. Additionally, effects buffer, pH, base, co-solvent explored respect ether generation Characterization NCN-pincer X-ray crystallography, HR-MS, cyclic voltammetry, FT-IR UV-Vis spectral studies is reported.