A practical method for preparation of phenols from arylboronic acids catalyzed by iodopovidone in aqueous medium

Abstract

A novel and efficient strategy for the ipso-hydroxylation of arylboronic acids to phenols has been developed using inexpensive, readily available, air-stable water-soluble povidone iodine as catalyst and aqueous hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent. The reactions were performed at room temperature under metal-, ligand- and base-free condition in a short reaction time. The corresponding substituted phenols were obtained in moderate to good yields by oxidative hydroxylation of arylboronic acids in aqueous medium.