Rapid formation of diphenylmethyl ethers and thioethers using microwave irradiation and protic ionic liquids

Using microwave irradiation and protic ionic liquids (pIL) as co-solvent and catalyst for the synthesis of several diphenylmethyl ethers was achieved. The desired ethers were isolated simply by filtration through a silica plug to remove the pIL and proceeded in high yields (60-98%). These reactions were extremely rapid (10-30 min) and occurred under mild conditions (80 °C). This protocol was also successfully applied to the synthesis of thioethers.