An easy access to functionalized diaryl ethers: formal total synthesis of K-13

As an alternative to the Ullmann ether synthesis, the SNAr reaction led to an efficient one step synthesis of chiral bis-amino acid diaryl ethers, e.g. the reaction of 2-FC6H4NO2 with tyrosine deriv. Boc-Tyr-OMe in the presence of base gave diaryl ether I. The above diaryl ethers are important intermediates in the synthesis of K-13 II. [on SciFinder (R)]