Aromatics benzoylation methyl benzoate

Table 2.2 Benzoylation of aromatics with methyl benzoate in the presence of triflic acid...

The use of iodine-containing pseudohalogens has been demonstrated to cause a variety of side reactions. Treatment of methyl 5-0-benzoyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-D-g/ycero-pent-2-enofuranoside (83, Scheme 22) with nitryl iodide afforded none of the desired addition product, but gave a quantitative yield of furfuryl benzoate (86). The same result was obtained by treating 83 with iodine nitrate, or with iodine alone.125 The rationale for this undesired result lies in the ability of iodine to act as a Lewis acid, polarizing the glycosidic bond, generating an oxacarbenium cation, which then decomposes to the stable aromatic 86. 

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