Silver(I)-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling of Aldehydes to Structurally Diverse Cyclic and Acyclic Ethers.

A range of medium-sized cyclic ethers (5 to 11 membered) have been effectively synthesized through intramolecular reductive coupling of dialdehydes initiated by 50 ppm to 0.5% of AgNTf 2 with hydrosilane at 25 °C. The catalytic system is also suitable for the coupling of two different monoaldehydes to provide unsymmetrical ethers. This protocol features broad functional group compatibility, high product diversity, high efficiency, and utility in the late-stage modification of complex biorelevant molecules.