Enantioselective Cycloetherification in a Micellar Catalysis System

The enantioselective cycloetherification of substituted keto phenols into their corresponding dihydrobenzofuran derivatives was carried out using hydrogen peroxide and chiral quaternary ammonium iodide in micellar media. This approach increased the conversion rate of cycloetherification and also widened the scope of this particular reaction for various substituted keto phenols with electron withdrawing as well as electron donating functionalities. The use of a surfactant in the cycloetherification reaction increased the yield of the corresponding enantioselective dihydrobenzofuran four times. The conversion rate of keto phenols into their corresponding dihydrobenzofuran derivatives was proportional to the concentration of the surfactant used in the reaction.

Graphical abstractThe cycloetherification of substituted keto phenols into enantioselective dihydrobenzofuran derivatives was carried out using hydrogen peroxide and tetrabutyl ammonium iodide in micellar media. This approach increased the conversion rate and widens the scope of the cycloetherification reaction.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide