Copper(II) mediated ortho C-H alkoxylation of aromatic amines using organic peroxides: efficient synthesis of hindered ethers.

Synthesis of hindered alkyl aryl ether derivatives (R-O-Ar) remains a huge challenge and highly desirable in organic and medicinal chemistry because extensive substitution on the ether bond prevents the undesired metabolic process and thus avoids rapid degradation in vivo. Herein, we report an unprecedented hindered alkoxylation of picolinamide attached aromatic amines using economic copper salt and organic peroxide to get highly desirable α-tertiary alkyl aryl ethers.