Reactions of Aroyl Chlorides with Samarium Metal in DMF—Controllable Syntheses of O‐Aroylbenzoins, 1,2‐Diarylethanones, and (Z)‐α,α′‐Stilbenediol Dibenzoates

Abstract

Reduction of aroyl chlorides carried out in DMF with samarium metal has been studied. Samarium metal, which requires not any intended activation or pretreatment, was found to react with aroyl chloride in a controllable manner. Correspondingly, O‐aroylbenzoins, 1,2‐diarylethanones, or (Z)‐α,α′‐stilbenediol dibenzoates were afforded as the major products under controlled conditions.

Keywords:

• O‐Aroylbenzoin
• Aroyl chloride
• 1,2‐diarylethanone
• DMF
• Samarium

Acknowledgment

We are grateful to the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 20072033) and Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China.