Phenolic ethers spectroscopic analysis

Spectroscopic and X-ray crystal structure analysis has shown that (/ )- -methylheptyl phenyl ether formed in the reaction between phenol and the isourea derivative of (2S)-octan-2-ol proceeds via the carbenium ion intermediate (9). It is suggested that only 0 the (IJ)-l-methylheptyl phenyl ether (99.4% ee) is formed because attack by the phenol nucleophile on the carbenium ion intermediate can only occur from one direction because of strong shielding by the two bulky cyclohexylamino groups. 

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