Pd-Catalyzed Etherification of Nitroarenes

The Pd-catalyzed etherification of nitroarenes with arenols has been achieved using a new rationally designed ligand. Mechanistic insights were used to design the ligand so that both the oxidative addition and reductive elimination steps of a plausible catalytic cycle were facilitated. The catalytic system established here provides direct access to a range of unsymmetrical diaryl ethers from nitroarenes.