Strategies for synthesizing meta-substituted phenols and phenyl ethers: overcoming the ortho–para positioning challenge in benzene rings

Abstract

meta-Substituted phenols and phenyl ethers possess unique structural and chemical properties that render them extremely important in medicinal chemistry and materials science. Their selective preparation has aroused great interest among chemists due to the challenge posed by the ortho–para positioning effect in traditional electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions. Multiple synthetic methods have emerged for the construction of this class of compounds. This mini-review describes recent research progress concerning the synthetic methods of meta-substituted phenols and phenyl ethers, as well as the associated reaction mechanisms and applications in drug preparation, which offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of these compounds for medicinal purposes.