ZIRCONOCENE BIS(PERFLUOROOCTANESULFONATE) S-CATALYZED HIGHLY EFFICIENT SYNTHESIS OF 1,3,5-TRIARYL BENZENE VIA CYCLOTRIMERIZATION OF KETONES

Air-stable zirconocene bis(perfluoroctanesulfonate)s [Cp2Zr]OSO2C8F17)(2)] (1) with high Lewis acidity and high thermal stability was prepared by the reaction between Cp2ZrCl2 and AgOSO2C8F17. The as-prepared complex 1 exhibits good activity and selectivity in the cyclotrimerization of various ketones to the desired 1,3,5-triaylbenzenes. Furthermore, in the cyclic experiments, the complex 1 shows little loss of activity after 10 cycles. The results afford a general and efficient method for the cyclotrimerization of ketones using Cp2Zr(OSO2C8F17)(2) as catalyst.