Dimethyl carbonate and phenols to alkyl aryl ethers via clean synthesis

The industrially important alkyl aryl ethers (ArOR) were selectively obtained in good yields from the O-alkylation of the corresponding phenols with the environmentally benign reagents, dimethyl carbonate or diethyl carbonate. The reactions were carried out under atmospheric pressure, in a homogenous process, without solvent and in the presence of potassium carbonate as catalyst.