Direct synthesis of ethers from aldehydes and ketones. One-pot reductive etherification of benzaldehydes, alkyl aryl ketones, and benzophenones

Benzyl alcohols formed by the reduction of benzaldehydes, alkyl aryl ketones, and benzophenones with sodium tetrahydridoborate in alcohols undergo in situ etherification with the solvent in the presence of a catalytic amount of HCl. Thus the process may be regarded as one-pot transformation of carbonyl compounds into the corresponding benzyl ethers. The yields of ethers depend on the substituent nature in the aromatic fragment of the initial carbonyl compound and on the alcohol used as reduction medium.