Cu-Catalyzed Arylation of Phenols: Synthesis of Sterically Hindered and Heteroaryl Diaryl Ethers

Cu-catalyzed O-arylation of phenols with aryl iodides and bromides can be performed under mild condition in DMSO/K(3)PO(4) with use of picolinic acid as the ligand for copper. This method tolerates a variety of functional groups and is effective in the synthesis of hindered diaryl ethers and heteroaryl ethers.