Triflic-Acid-Catalyzed Friedel-Crafts Reaction for the Synthesis of Diaryl Sulfones

The Friedel-Crafts sulfonylation for the synthesis of diaryl sulfones derivatives was achieved by using triflic acid (TfOH) as the acidic catalyst with aryl sulfonyl chlorides and arenes at elevated temperatures. Different sulfones could be synthesized with this method in good to excellent yield and with high selectivity. In contrast to the previous methodology reported for this sulfonylation, the catalyst and the excess of arene could be easily recovered and re-used in further batches.

Automated summary

The Friedel-Crafts sulfonylation for the synthesis of diaryl sulfones derivatives was achieved using triflic acid as the catalyst. The method showed good to excellent yield and high selectivity, and the catalyst and excess arene could be easily recovered and re-used.