Ytterbium Triflate Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts Reaction: Facile Synthesis of Diaryl Ketones

Abstract

Friedel–Crafts reaction of aromatic compounds (benzenes, thiophene, furan, pyrrole, naphthalene, and benzothiophene) with bis(trichloromethyl) carbonate [BTC] was efficiently catalyzed by ytterbium triflate [Yb(OTf)₃] to give diaryl ketones with moderate to good yields.

Keywords:

• Friedel–Crafts reaction
• Ytterbium triflate
• Bis(trichloromethyl) carbonate
• diaryl ketones

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the National Basic Research Program of China [973 Program: 2003CB114400], National Natural Science Foundation of China [20276072], and National Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province [2001062 and 2002095] for financial help.