Organosoluble Copper Clusters as Precatalysts for Carbon−Heteroelement Bond-Forming Reactions: Microwave and Conventional Heating

The coupling of aryl iodides with alcohols under mild conditions has been explored using self-assembled octanuclear copper clusters as catalysts. Reactions involving tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol
were typically complete in 4−8 h at 110 °C using an oil bath or 1−3 h with microwave heating.
High yields of alkyl aryl ethers were obtained with catalyst loadings as low as 0.4 mol % cluster.