Sol–gel immobilized and reusable copper-catalyst for arylation of phenols from aryl bromides

Abstract

A simple β-diamide ligand was immobilized by the sol–gel process on hybrid silica for Cu-mediated O-arylation reactions. Combined with 5% of CuI, the latter can easily be recovered and reused to generate diarylethers under smooth conditions from cheap aryl bromides in an eco-friendly solvent (MIBK). Besides, negligible metal leaching occurred after reaction in solution from the supported catalyst.