Friedel boron Lewis acid catalyzed

Ethynylcarbazole was apparently formed by sodamide treatment of 9-dichlorovinylcarbazole (97) and zinc reduction of 97 gave 98. Where no reaction occurred with the Z isomer, 99 gave the dimer 100 with boron trifluoride the process presumably involves Lewis acid-catalyzed alkylation of one double bond by another double bond, complexed to boron trifluoride, followed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts type alkylation at the carbazole 1-position. ... 

Boron trifluoride is a highly moisture-sensitive gas (31). It is utilized in esterification, ether formation, Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation, and Lewis acid-catalyzed Diels-Alder reactions. A more widely used, easy-to-handle and convenient liquid source of BF3 is boron trifluoride etherate [BF3-0(C2H5)2] (32). Its main usage as catalyst is in the direct esterification of all types of acids, rearrangements, aldol condensation, and Lewis acid-catalyzed Diels-Alder reactions. It is the most frequently used acid in epoxide ring opening and rearrangement (33). 

The application of the ideas of Lewis on acids, which correlate a wide range of phenomena in qualitative fashion, has as yet led to very few quantitative studies of reaction velocity but has led to detailed speculations as to mechanisms (Luder and Zuffanti, 118). Friedel-Crafts reactions are considered to be acid-catalyzed, the formation of a car-bonium ion being the first step. The carbonium ion then acts as an acid relative to the base benzene which, upon loss of a proton, yields the alkylated product. Isomerizations of isoparaffins can be explained in similar fashion (Schneider and Kennedy, 119). An alkyl halide yields a carbonium ion on reaction with acids such as boron trifluoride, aluminum chloride, and other metal halides. 

The coupling of a phosphorus atom to a boron atom can be done by synthesis of the iodo-substi-tuted carborane and subsequent palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction (Figure 22.4) [24]. Unfortunately, this reaction only works with the meta- and para-carborane and not with the ortho isomer, because of cleavage of 9-iodo-ortAo-carborane with triethylamine in toluene at SS-W C. Attachment of an iodine atom to the B9 atom is done via electrophilic iodation. The mechanism is similar to the Friedel-Crafts reaction using AICI3 as the Lewis acid. 

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