Chemoselective tetrahydropyranylation of alcohols and phenols using nanoencapsulated FeCl3 in linear polystyrene as a recoverable and reusable polymer-supported catalyst

Abstract

A new, mild and efficient protocol for chemoselective protection of alcohols and phenols as tetrahydropyranyl ethers using linear polystyrene-encapsulated FeCl3 nanoparticles as a recyclable macromolecular Lewis acid catalyst at room temperature is described. This catalytic system allowed for the facile conversion of primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols, as well as phenols to the corresponding tetrahydropyranyl ethers with short reaction times and high yields. The nanoencapsulated ferric chloride catalyst was found to be recoverable even after the sixth catalytic cycle without much depreciation in its activity.