Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid catalyzed novel Friedel-Crafts acylation of aromatics with methyl benzoate

Methyl benzoate, protolytically activated by superacidic trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, reacts with aromatic compounds to give benzophenone derivatives in good to excellent yields (70-93%). Even highly deactivated nitrobenzene as well as benzotrifluoride underwent smooth benzoylation under the reaction conditions to respective meta-substituted benzophenones. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.