New Method for the Synthesis of Benzyl Alkyl Ethers Mediated by FeSO₄

Abstract

The synthesis of benzyl alkyl ethers from benzyl bromides and alcohols using FeSO₄ as a recoverable and reusable mediator has been described without use of base and cosolvent under mild conditions.

Keywords:

• Alcohols
• benzyl alkyl ethers
• benzyl bromides
• FeSO₄

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India, for the financial support of this project under the Green Chemistry Task Force Scheme (No. SR/S5/GC-02A/2006).

Notes

Note. Conditions: 1a (3.0 mmol), 2 (5.0 mL), reflux, 12 h.

^a GC yields based on starting benzyl bromide; numbers in parantheses are isolated yields.

^b Temperature at 110 °C.

^a Isolated yields under the optimized conditions of Table 1.

^b GC yields.