Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Diaryl Ethers without Catalyst

[reaction: see text] Diaryl ethers have been prepared by direct coupling of phenols including those that bear a strong electron-attracting substituent to electron-deficient aryl halides through S(N)Ar-based addition reactions with assistance of microwave irradiation in high to excellent yields within 5-10 min. No catalysts were required under our conditions.