An efficient BINAM–copper(II) catalyzed Ullmann-type synthesis of diaryl ethers

A wide range of diaryl ethers are synthesized from the corresponding aryl iodides and phenols through Ullmann type coupling reactions in the presence of a catalytic amount of easily available BINAM–Cu(OTf)2 complex under mild reaction conditions. Less reactive aryl bromides have also been shown to react with phenols under identical reaction conditions to give good yields of the diaryl ethers without increasing the reaction temperature and time.