Copper-Catalyzed Esterification of Alkylbenzenes with Cyclic Ethers and Cycloalkanes via C(sp³)–H Activation Following Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling

A copper-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling strategy has been developed for the synthesis of two classes of esters from simple solvents. The reaction of methylarenes with cyclic ethers resulted in α-acyloxy ethers involving four sp3 C–H cleavages, while treatment of methylarenes with cycloalkanes led to the formation of allyl esters at the expense of six consecutive sp3 C–H bonds.