Electrochemical dimerization of halogenated p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid derivatives followed by Zn reduction provided the corresponding diaryl ethers. Manipulation of the reduction step using several procedures increased its efficiency, which enabled the construction of o-methylthalibrine, an isoquinoline-class alkaloid.
[Reddy, S. Malla; Srinivasulu; Venkateswarlu Indian Journal of Chemistry - Section B Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, 2006 , vol. 45, # 12 p. 2757 - 2762]