Phenols, synthesis nickel-catalysed

Apart from aryl halides, other very easily available substrates for nickel-catalysed biaryl (II) synthesis are aryl sulfonates (XII). Method D is very efficient in the homocoupling reactions of substituted aryl sulfonates in good to excellent yields [15], Table 6. Substituted aryl sulfonates are readily obtained from phenols and trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, benzenesulfonyl-, tosyl- or methanesulfonyl chloride in pyridine, or in a suitable inert solvent such as dichloromethane in the presence of triethylamine or Hiinig s base. Among other nickel complexes, Ni(dppe)Cl2 and Ni(dppf)Cl2 have been used (10 mo1%) as slightly less versatile catalysts for the homo-couplings of naphthyl sulfonates in refluxing THF, DMF or their mixtures [42]. 

Other aldehydes used for the synthesis of phenolic polycondensates include butyraldehyde, furfural or chloral. Efficient AO, e.g. polycondensate 129, were prepared with sulfur containing aldehydes [161]. Linear polycondensates of phenols and aldehydes were tested as AO in mineral oils, PE, PP, poly (ethylene-co-propylene), PS, PA and/or diene based rubbers [159, 162]. Cyclic phenolic condensates, calixarenes (130) posses interesting properties. Calixarenes were synthesized from 4-acyl-, 4-methyl-, 4-tm-butyl- or 4-phenylphenol in alkaline catalysed processes. Cycles containing 4 to 7 phenolic units were formed and tested as AO in PE or PP [163,164], Nickel(II) salt of 130 (R = lerf-butyl, n = 1)... 

Reactions between cyclobutenones and alkynes in order to synthesize phenols have also been studied by Danheiser and coworkers [equation 8]. In particular, R = CH3O, CH3S, (CH3)2N and (CH3)3SiO are favourable substituents . The trimethylsilyloxy-substi-tuted alkyne furnishes a trimethylsilylresorcinol from which the trimethylsilyl group is easily removed. A nickel(0)-catalysed version of this synthesis of phenols from cyclobutenones and alkynes was published by Huffman and Liebeskind. ... 

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