2-tert-Butylimino-2-diethylamino-1,3-dimethylperhydro-1,3,2-diazaphosphorine Supported on Polystyrene (PS-BEMP) as an Efficient Recoverable and Reusable Catalyst for the Phenolysis of Epoxides under Solvent-Free Conditions

2-tert-Butylimino-2-diethylamino-1,3-dimethylperhydro-1,3,2-diazaphosphorine supported on polystyrene (PS-BEMP) is an efficient catalyst for the ring-opening of epoxides with phenols (1.0 equiv.). Excellent yields have been obtained and in most of the cases the final products have been isolated in pure form without any additional purification step. E-factors associated to this protocol are small and further improvements were obtained by setting a cyclic continuous-flow reactor operating under solvent-free conditions (SolFC) that allowed us to minimize waste and reduce the E-factor by 95% compared to batch conditions. In addition the representative synthesis of a 2,3-dihydrobenzo-[1,4]dioxepin-5-one has been realized. Optimization of this process was achieved by setting up an automated multi-step continuous-flow reactor based on a phenolysis process and a subsequent lactonization by thermal treatment of the reaction mixture. 3-Phenoxymethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzo[e][1,4] dioxepin-5-one was isolated in pure form and on a multi-gram scale in a very satisfactory 86% overall yield and an E-factor of 1.47.