Lanthanide(III) Triflate-Catalyzed Thermal- and Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Benzyl Ethers from Benzyl Alcohols

The lanthanide(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate-catalyzed condensation of benzyl alcohols with primary and secondary ­alcohols is described. This reaction proceeds readily with benzyl ­alcohols that have an alkyl or aryl substituent at the (alpha)-, ortho-, or paraposition using microwave radiation or heating. The intra­molecular variant of this reaction leads to cyclic benzofurans.