Copper-Catalyzed Diaryl Ether Formation from (Hetero)aryl Halides at Low Catalytic Loadings

Diaryl formation is achieved by coupling phenols and (hetero)aryl halides under the catalysis of CuI/N,N'-bis(2-phenylphenyl) oxalamide (BPPO) or CuI/N-(2-phenylphenyl)-N'-benzyl oxalamide (PPBO) at 90 °C using DMF or MeCN as the solvent. Only 0.2-2 mol % CuI and ligand are required for complete conversion, which represents the lowest catalytic loadings for a general Cu/ligand-catalyzed diaryl ether formation.