Copper-Catalyzed Hydroxylation of (Hetero)aryl Halides under Mild Conditions

The combination of Cu(acac)2 and N,N'-bis(4-hydroxyl-2,6-dimethylphenyl)oxalamide (BHMPO) provides a powerful catalytic system for hydroxylation of (hetero)aryl halides. A wide range of (hetero)aryl chlorides bearing either electron-donating or -withdrawing groups proceeded well at 130 °C, delivering the corresponding phenols and hydroxylated heteroarenes in good to excellent yields. When more reactive (hetero)aryl bromides and iodides were employed, the hydroxylation reactions completed at relatively low temperatures (80 and 60 °C, respectively) at low catalytic loadings (0.5 mol % Cu).