Palladium-catalyzed C–O bond formation: direct synthesis of phenols and aryl/alkyl ethers from activated aryl halides

A simple and efficient palladium-catalyzed carbon–oxygen bond formation is reported. The palladium-tri-tert-butylphosphine complex was found to be effective in converting haloarenes to corresponding substituted phenols. This methodology offers a direct transformation of aryl halides to phenols, as well as the straightforward application to generate a wide variety of diaryl or alkyl/aryl ethers.