Synthesis of Polyfunctional Aromatic Ring Systems (Phloroglucide Analogs) under Microwave Irradiation

An efficient and rapid synthesis of phloroglucide analogs under microwave irradiation is described. The solid‐phase condensation reaction of the 4‐halo‐2,6‐bis(hydroxymethyl)phenols 1a,b with other substituted phenols in the presence of ZnCl2 afforded the target molecules in much higher yields than by classical solution‐phase synthesis and allowed us to prepare new phloroglucide analogs possessing sensitive functional groups difficult to access by established means.