ChemInform Abstract: Benzylation of Alcohols and Phenols with N-(4-Methoxybenzyl)-o-benzenedisulfonimide.

N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-o-benzene disulfonimide was prepared from o-benzenedisulfonyl chloride and 4-methoxybenzylamin in dichloromethane. Reaction of this compound with alcohols or phenols undere basic conditions gave the corresponding 4-methoxybenzyl ethers in good yields. Primary alkylamines were converted to the corresponding alcohols by treating the benzenedisulfonimido derivative with aqueous KOH in DMF solution. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.