Rapid and green synthesis of phenols catalyzed by a deep eutectic mixture based on fluorinated alcohol in water

•A new deep eutectic mixture based on choline chloride and hexafluoroisopropanol (ChCl/HFIP) was prepared.•A rapid and green oxidative hydroxylation of aryl/heteroaryl boronic acids was developed in the presence of ChCl/HFIP.•The DES (ChCl/HFIP) could be readily recovered and reused for five runs.

A new deep eutectic mixture based on choline chloride and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) was prepared and was found to be effective for the rapid transformation of aryl/heteroaryl boronic acids to the corresponding phenols in water using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. Broad substrate compatibility, metal- and additive-free conditions as well as reusability of the catalyst made this procedure more environmentally benign.

Graphical abstractRapid, green and gram-scale synthesis of phenols from aryl/heteroaryl boronic acids and derivatives in the presence of deep eutectic mixture (ChCl/HFIP) was achieved.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide