Synthesis of n-Butyl Phenyl Ether with Microwave Irradiation

n-Butyl phenyl ether was synthesized from phenol, potassium hydroxide and n-butyl bromide under the microwave irradiation using anhydrous alcohol as solvent and polyethylene glycol 400 as phase transfer catalyst.Structures of products were identified by means of refractive index and IR.By single factor tests,effects of reactants ratio,catalyst dosage,solvent dosage,microwave irradiation power and irradiation time on reaction were studied.Under the optimum reaction conditions: n(phenol)∶n(potassium hydroxide)∶n(n-butyl bromide)∶n(polyethylene glycol 400)=1∶2.0∶3.0∶0.08,ethanol dosage 20 mL,microwave irradiation power 160 W,the irradiation time 4 min,the yield reached 97.58%.