BF_3-H_2O Catalyzed Hydroxyalkylation of Aromatics with Aromatic Aldehydes and Dicarboxaldehydes: Efficient Synthesis of Triaryhnethanes, Diaryhnethylbenzaldehydes, and Anthracene Derivatives

摘要

BF_3-monohydrate is found to be an efficient and strong acid catalyst as well as an effectiveprotosolvating medium suitable for the hydroxyalkylation of arenes with aromatic aldehydes. Thisreaction has been extended to aromatic dialdehydes, such as terephthalic dicarboxaldehyde andisoterephthalic dicarboxaldehyde, for the efficient synthesis of diarylmethylbenzaldehydes, which areuseful synthons for various organic transformations. Further, successful one step convergentsynthesis of various synthetically useful anthracene derivatives from phthalaldehyde was alsoachieved. BF_3-H_2O is less expensive and acts as an efficient substitute for nonoxidizing strongprotic acids/superacids.