Benzylation of alcohols by using bis[acetylacetonato]copper as catalyst

Selective O-benzylation of primary hydroxy compounds has been achieved in the presence of bis[acetylacetonato]copper with benzyl chloride. We showed that bis[acetylacetonato]copper was very efficient in promoting the benzylation of primary aliphatic alcohols versus secondary aliphatic alcohols and phenolic hydroxy groups selectively.