Evaluation of microwave effect on the selective dealkylation of alkyl aryl ether in solvent-free heterogeneous basic media

Under solvent-free conditions,selective dealkylation of aromatic alkoxylated compounds such as 2-ethoxyanisole was performed using kotbu as the reagent and eventually in the presence of ethylene glycol as an additive. the selectivity is only influenced by the intervention of additive and strong enhancements in rates were observed under focused microwaves. the involved mechanisms are competitive sn2 (demethylation) and β-e2 (deethylation) reactions,the specific microwave effect being more important for the first one in connection with a more difficult reaction.