Organo‐Iodine(III)‐Catalyzed Oxidative Phenol–Arene and Phenol–Phenol Cross‐Coupling Reaction

Abstract The direct oxidative coupling reaction has been an attractive tool for environmentally benign chemistry. Reported herein is that the hypervalent iodine catalyzed oxidative metal‐free cross‐coupling reaction of phenols can be achieved using Oxone as a terminal oxidant in 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoropropan‐2‐ol (HFIP). This method features a high efficiency and regioselectivity, as well as functional‐group tolerance under very mild reaction conditions without using metal catalysts.