A Mild and Versatile Method for the Synthesis of Alkyl Ethers from Methoxymethyl Ethers and Application to the Preparation of Sterically Crowded Ethers.

Methoxymethyl or 1-methoxyethyl ether derivatives are transformed by a one-pot two-step sequence into the corresponding alkyl ether derivatives via pyridinium salt intermediates, which are added to organocuprates generated in situ from CuI and alkyl/aryl Grignard reagents.