title: Metal-catalyzed activation of ethers via C-O bond cleavage: a new strategy for molecular diversity.
abstract: In 1979, the seminal work of Wenkert set the standards for the utilization of aryl and vinyl ethers as coupling partners via C-O bond-cleavage. Although the topic remained dormant for almost three decades, the last few years have witnessed a renaissance in this area of expertise, experiencing an exponential growth and becoming a significant discipline within the cross-coupling arena. The means to utilize readily accessible aryl or vinyl ethers as counterparts does not only represent a practical, powerful and straightforward alternative to organic halides, but also constitutes an excellent opportunity to improve our chemical knowledge about a relatively unexplored area of expertise. This review summarizes the most significant developments in the area of C-O bond-cleavage when employing aryl or vinyl ethers, providing a detailed overview of the current state of the art and including future aspects, when applicable.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Av Països Catalans 16, 43007 Tarragona, Spain. rmartinromo@iciq.es.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cornella
authors.forename: Cayetana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martin