Friedel-Crafts reaction catalyzed by perfluorinated rare earth metals

The Friedel-Crafts reaction of anisole with acetic anhydride can be carried out in the presence of perfluorinated rare earth metal catalyst without organic solvent. Perfluorodecalin (C10F18, cis- and trans-mixture) can be used as a fluorous phase solvent for this reaction. Whereas, the reaction of N,N-dimethylaniline with acetic anhydride did not give the corresponding Friedel-Crafts reaction product. On the other hand, the Friedel-Crafts reaction of N,N-dimethylaniline with ethyl glyoxylate was also examined in the presence of perfluorinated Lewis acids. Three products were in fact formed at the same time. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.