Synergism of Low Energy Microwave Irradiation and Solid–Liquid Phase Transfer Catalysis for Selective Alkylation of Phenols to Phenolic Ethers

Abstract

A 100% selectivity with an order of magnitude rate enhancement is obtained in the synthesis of phenolic ethers when synergistic combination of solid–liquid phase transfer catalysis and low energy microwave irradiation (MISL‐PTC) is employed. As against conventional microwave heating with 600 W power input, the current work demonstrates that a low input of 40 W leads to remarkable enhancement in rates without any destruction of the catalyst.

Keywords:

• Substituted phenols
• Microwave irradiation
• Solid–liquid phase transfer catalysis
• Synergism
• Enhancement of rates and selectivities
• MISL‐PTC

Acknowledgments

Financial support from the Darbari Seth Professorship Endowment and NMITLI–CSIR is gratefully acknowledged.