A New Protocol for O-Methylation of Phenolic Compounds with Trimethyl Phosphite or Trimethyl Phosphate Under Solvent-Free Condition and Microwave Irradiation

Abstract A simple method for the preparation of industrially important alkyl aryl ethers is reported. Several phenolic compounds such as phenols, naphthols, and hydroxy coumarins were O-methylated with trimethyl phosphite or trimethyl phosphate under microwave irradiation and solvent-free condition in almost quantitative yields. Reaction of 2-naphthol with trimethyl phosphate gave mixture of 2-methoxynaphthalene and 1-methyl-2-methoxynaphthalene while the reaction with trimethyl phosphite gave mostly 2-methoxynaphthalene. This method is highly efficient for the methylating of phenolic compounds with very easy experimental procedure and environmental friendly conditions. Keywords: Alkyl aryl ethers microwave irradiation solvent-free trimethyl phosphite