A Cu2O/SiC heterogeneous catalyst was prepared via a two‐step liquid‐phase method using diethyleneglycol as both the solvent and the reducing agent.The catalyst was characterized using X‐raydiffraction,X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy,scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmissionelectron microscopy(TEM),and H2temperature‐programmed reduction.All the results indicatethat Cu is present on the SiC support primarily as Cu2O.The SEM and TEM results show that cubicCu2O nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed on theβ‐SiC surface.The reaction conditions,namelythe temperature,reaction time,and amounts of base and catalyst used,for the Ullmann‐type C–Ocross‐coupling reaction were optimized.A model reaction was performed using iodobenzene(14.0mmol)and phenol(14.0mmol)with Cu2O/SiC(5wt%Cu)as the catalyst,Cs2CO3(1.0equiv.)as thebase,and tetrahydrofuran as the solvent at150°C for3h;a yield of97%was obtained and theturnover frequency(TOF)was1136h?1.The Cu2O/SiC catalyst has a broad substrate scope and canbe used in Ullmann‐type C–O cross‐coupling reactions of aryl halides and phenols bearing a varietyof different substituents.The catalyst also showed high activity in the Ullmann‐type C–Scross‐coupling of thiophenol with iodobenzene and substituted iodobenzenes;a TOF of1186h?1was achieved.The recyclability of the Cu2O/SiC catalyst in the O‐arylation of phenol with iodobenzenewas investigated under the optimum conditions.The yield decreased from97%to64%afterfive cycles.The main reason for the decrease in the catalyst activity is loss of the active component,i.e.,Cu2O.
