tBuONa/DMSO-mediated C–O bond cleavage of phenethyl ether derivatives

Abstract

A transition-metal-free, radical-induced C–O cleavage of phenethyl ethers has been developed with a simple ^tBuONa/DMSO system under mild, non-photochemical, and non-electrochemical conditions. This method delivers styrenes and phenols with broad substrate scope and excellent functional-group tolerance, offering a conceptually novel approach for C–O bond fragmentation.