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 degrees 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.