One-Pot Preparation of 2,5-Dichloro-4′-phenyloxybenzophenone

Abstract

Friedel–Crafts-type acylation of phenyl ether with 2,5-dichlorobenzoic acid could be accomplished in a single step using trifluoroacetic anhydride and phosphoric acid. The method gave a greater yield (78%) than the conventional two-step process (71%) of acid chloride generation followed by aluminum trichloride–mediated acylation.

Keywords:

• Acylation
• Friedel–Crafts
• mixed anhydride
• phosphoric acid
• trifluoroacetic anhydride

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The financial support from the In-House Laboratory Independent Research (ILIR) program (NAWCWD) is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks to Ann M. Moorehead and Cynthia M. Kitchens for collecting References 13 and 26. Thanks to Dr. Robert D. Chapman (NAWCWD) for some trifluoroacetic acid used in the NMR studies.

Notes

^a Solvent CDCl₃, room temperature, carboxylic acid proton resonances not shown.

This article is not subject to U.S. copyright laws.