Convenient O-Methylation of Phenols with Dimethyl Carbonate

Abstract
Reaction of phenols in dimethyl carbonate in the presence of cesium carbonate at 120-160 °C gave aryl methyl ethers in good yields, whereas the reaction of aliphatic alcohols gave the corresponding alkyl carbonates. This method provides a useful synthetic method for preparation of various aryl methyl ethers without using toxic methyl iodide or dimethyl sulfate. O-Methylation of the aromatic hydroxy group of estradiol was carried out in 2 steps without protection of the alcoholic hydroxy group in the same molecule.

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