Efficient metal-free oxidative aromatization of 2-aryloxycyclohex-2-en-1-ones was achieved by a combination of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) and Amberlyst-15. The conditions for oxidative aromatization are mild and applicable for a variety of substrates, and Amberlyst-15 can be successfully recovered and recycled. 2-Aryloxyphenols constitute an important structural motif in medicinal chemistry, which shows a wide spectrum of therapeutic applications. For example, 2-phenoxyphenol (I) and Triclosan (II) are antibacterial drugs [1], while 2-aryloxyphenol containing biologically active peptides viz. vancomycin family member isodityrosine (III) [2], K-13, [3] OF-4949-I-IV [4], Bouvardin [5], and RA I-IV [6] exhibit antitumor activity. Besides these important applications, 2-aryloxyphenols are important building blocks for the synthesis of polycyclic furans like IV [7].above methods suffer from such drawbacks as the use of metals, high temperatures, complex reaction systems, poor yields, and limited scope of substrates.Oxidative aromatization of cyclohexenones to phenols is an important transformation in organic synthesis, so metal-free oxidative aromatization is highly desirable. The best choice of reagents for oxidative aromatization of substituted cyclohexenones would be iodine and DDQ (2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone). However, oxidative aromatization of substituted cyclohexenones with iodine in methanol afforded directly aryl phenyl ethers instead of 2-aryloxyphenols [17]. DDQ has been investigated as a powerful oxidant by several research groups [18] and was proved to be useful for a wide range of reactions. This prompted us to use DDQ for oxidative aromatization of 2-aryloxycyclohex-2-en-1-ones to 2-aryloxyphenols. DDQ can be activated by Brønsted acids like concd. HCl, concd. H 2 SO 4 , and TsOH, but these acids are corrosive. Replacement of these acids by solid acids is always desirable.Herein we report for the first time the use of a combination of DDQ and a solid acid, Amberlyst-15, for efficient and metal-free oxidative aromatization of 2-aryloxycyclohexenones to 2-aryloxyphenols. Amberlyst-15 has been recovered and recycled successfully. The reaction conditions are mild, and 2-aryloxyphenols are obtained in good yield. 2-Aryloxycyclohex-2-en-1-ones Va-Vj were prepared by ring opening of 2,3-epoxycyclohexanone with phenols using K 2 CO 3 in acetonitrile under reflux.Oxidative aromatization was attempted in the presence of various well known oxidants. Oxidative aro-