CuO on Alumina for C-O Coupling of Halides with Alcohols

Significance

CuO on alumina catalyzed the C-O coupling of aryl and alkyl halides 1 with aryl and alkyl alcohols 2 in the presence of KOH to give the corresponding ethers 3 in up to 98% yield (43 examples). In the reaction of iodobenzene with phenol, the catalyst was recovered by centrifugation and reused three times (1^st reuse: 91% yield, 2^nd reuse: 85% yield, 3^rd reuse: 83% yield).