Facile and Metal-Free Synthesis of Phenols from Benzaldoxime and Diaryliodonium Salts

A metal-free, base-promoted facile synthesis of phenol derivatives utilising diaryliodonium salts as the aryl source and benzaldoxime as the hydroxide surrogate has been developed. The reaction is fast and shows good substrate compatibility, giving the corresponding products in good to excellent yields. A gram-scale synthesis of phenols utilising this protocol has also been achieved.