A simple Cu-catalyzed coupling approach to substituted 3-pyridinol and 5-pyrimidinol antioxidants

A convenient approach is described for 3-pyridinols and 5-pyrimidinols via a two-step Cu-catalyzed benzyloxylation/catalytic hydrogenation sequence. The radical-scavenging ability has revealed that the increased acidities of the pyridinols and pyrimidinols have rendered them susceptible to more significant kinetic solvent effects when compared to phenols.