Reductive Cleavage of C—O Bond in Model Compounds of Lignin

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/cjoc.201600770

A simple protocol for reductive cleavage of C—O bond in diaryl and aryl methyl ethers was reported, in which NaH served as a reducing agent and KO^tBu as a base and a radical initiator. The combination of NaH and KO^tBu displayed high efficiency for reductive cleavage of C—O bond in diaryl and aryl ethers (e.g., dibenzofuran, diphenyl ether, anisole) without the hydrogenation of the aryl rings, in the absence of any other catalysts or ligands at 140 °C, producing corresponding arenes and phenols. It was indicated that the reaction was under a radical mechanism.