Microwave Assisted Dealkylation of Alkyl Aryl Ethers in Ionic Liquids

Alkyl aryl ethers undergo selective dealkylation in 1-butyl pyridinium bromide and 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium bromide ionic liquids under microwave irradiation to give the corresponding phenols in high yields. The ionic liquids serve the dual purpose of solvent as well as reagent and allow easy isolation of products.