Nickel-catalyzed denitrative etherification of activated nitrobenzenes

Abstract

Electron-deficient nitrobenzenes were coupled with phenols/alcohols to form diaryl/alkyl aryl ethers by the aid of NiCl2 as the catalyst. The reactions were conducted under ligand- and oxidant-free conditions without the exclusion of air or moisture. The initial studies upon the mechanism of the reaction revealed two solvent-dependent approaches. In molten TBAB, SNAr mechanism seems to be predominated, while, in DMF, the reaction might include the radical species.