Oxidation of benzyl alcohols with difluoro(aryl)-λ3-bromane: formation of benzyl fluoromethyl ethers via oxidative rearrangement

Oxidative rearrangement of benzyl alcohols with difluoro(p-trifluoromethylphenyl)-lambda(3)-bromane (5 x 10(-2) M) in chloroform at room temperature afforded aryl fluoromethyl ethers selectively in good yields, probably via 1,2-shift of aryl groups from benzylic carbon to oxygen atoms. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.