Intramolecular reactions Friedel-Crafts acylation

In 2007, Womack et al. published the conversion of 2-aUcylcinnamyldehydes to 2-aLkylindanones via a catalytic intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction. In the presence of 5-10 mol% FeCls different in situ generated ( )-2-alkylcinnamaldehydes-derived dimethyl acetals cyclized to l-methoxy-2-aIkyl-7//-indenes in good to high yields (Scheme 6) [22]. The transformation corresponds to a formal intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation which is achieved with catalytic quantities of Lewis acid. This result is in strong contrast to traditional Friedel-Crafts acylations which require stoichiometric amounts of Lewis acid. 

No examples have been found in which either an eight-membered ring or a four- or three-membered ring has been fbrmed by intramolecular acylation. The failure of phenylacetyl chloride and benzoyl chloride to cyclize under the conditions of the Friedel-Crafts reaction has been reported.12... 

The examples of intramolecular acylation by the use of aluminum chloride in the Friedel-Crafts reaction occur in the literature so frequently that no attempt has been made here to enumerate all of them. Table VII includes several different types of arylpropionic and aryl-butyric acids which have been cyclized by this method. 

Cyclization of Anhydrides. Instead of the acid chloride, an intramolecular anhydride of the type LXXIX may be used for cyclization by the Friedel-Crafts reaction (Table VII, examples marked by h ). This resembles the intermolecular acylation with succinic anhydride, and a similar procedure is generally followed. The product of ring closure is a keto acid LXXX. Nitrobenzene 9i 6,1120 is a generally effective solvent for the reaction sym-tetrachloroethane also may be used.121... 

Treatment of saturated azlactones with aromatic compounds under Friedel-Crafts conditions gives acylamino ketones in high yield (equation 46). 4-Benzyl-2-methyl-5(4H)-oxazolone undergoes an intramolecular reaction to yield an acetamidoindanone (equation 47). Friedel-Crafts reactions of 4-(arylmethylene)-5(4H)-oxazolones are complicated by the presence of an additional electrophilic centre (cf. 201) and may follow three courses. The unsaturated azlactone (189) adds benzene under the influence of aluminum chloride to form the saturated azlactone (207) in inert solvents (189) undergoes an intramolecular acylation to yield a mixture of the indenone (208) and the isoquinoline (209 Scheme 20). 

All of the Friedel-Crafts reactions discussed thus far have resulted from intermolecular reaction of a benzene ring with an electrophile. Starting materials that contain both units are capable of intramolecular reaction, and this forms a new ring. For example, treatment of compound A, which contains both a benzene ring and an acid chloride, with AICI3, forms a-tetralone by an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction. 

Although considered mild in comparison with other metals, copper(I) and (II) Inflates are suitable Lewis acids for affecting Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation reactions (Sch. 22). The intramolecular acylaminoalkylation of the indole derivative 88 afforded the cyclized product 89 in high yield [49]. The nitrogen functionality was not a requirement for formation of the benzylic cation, because the benzylic alcohol 90 reacted similarly with 91, even with an electron-withdrawing ester group adjacent to the cationic center. 

Thio- and selenoacetals and esters are excellent substrates for mild Friedel-Crafts reactions, because of the affinity of sulfur and selenium for copper (Sch. 23). Anisole was readily acylated with methylselenoesters 94 at room temperature with activation by CuOTf to affordpnra-substituted (> 95 %) derivatives 95 [50,51]. Mercury(II) and copper(II) salts, which were effective for the activation of selenyl esters for reaction with alcohols, amines, and water, were not effective for the Friedel-Crafts reaction. Aromatic heterocycles 96 could be acylated in high yields, and the alkylation product 100 was obtained from dibutylthioacetal 99 and anisole. Vedejs has utilized this methodology in the cyclization of 101 to afford 102 in 77 % yield [52]. This intramolecular variant did not require the use of the more reactive bis copper triflate-benzene complex. 

New C—C bonds to arenes can be made by Friedel-Crafts reactions. Friedel-Crafts alkylations are traditionally executed with an alkyl chloride and catalytic AICI3 or an alkene and a strong Brpnsted or Lewis acid the key electrophilic species is a carbocation. Friedel-Crafts acylations are usually executed with an acyl chloride and an excess of AICI3 the key electrophilic species is an acylium ion (RC=0+). In the Bischler-Napieralski reaction, intramolecular attack on a nitrilium ion (RC=NR) occurs. 

Fillion, E., Fishlock, D., Wilsily, A., and Goll, J. M. 2005. Meldrum s Acids as acylating agents in the catalytic intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction. /. Org. Chem. 70 1316-1327. 

The Stolle reaction is thought to occur via a typical mechanism for amide formation from an amine and acid chloride, followed by Friedel-Crafts alkylation or acylation. No definitive mechanistic work has been performed on this reaction, but incorporating the mechnistic understandings of two steps provides a firm basis for understanding the mechanism of this reaction. Formation of the mono-amide from oxalyl chloride and aniline provides intermediate 4, which in the presence of AICI3 undergoes intramolecular electrophilic aromatic substitution to the desired 2,3-dioxindole (isatin) 7 via intermediates 5 and 6. 

Reactions leading to a ring closure are always of interest. Two 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4//-cyclohepta[6]thiophen-4-ones were synthesised as intermediates for new cytotoxic agents [51] using two successive Friedel-Crafts reactions, the last intramolecular. Friedel-Crafts acylation of thiophene or 2-methylthiophene with glutaric anhydride in the presence of AICI3 gave 5-(thien-2-yl)-5-oxopentanoic acid 27a (R=H) and 5-(5-methylthien-2-yl)-5-oxopentanoic acid 27b (R=Me),... 

Preparation of Acyl Isocyanates. Isocyanatotrimethylsilane has been used to convert trifluoroacetyl chloride to trifluoroacetyl isocyanate. In the reaction with 1-naphthalenecarbonyl chloride, cyclization of the intermediate acyl isocyanate provides the imide through an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction (eq 3). ... 

Friedel-Crafts Reactions. Aluminum trifluoromethanesulfonate has been used for the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of toluene with isopropyl and tert-butyl chlorides (eq 1), and for the acylation of benzene and toluene with acetyl and benzoyl chlorides in low to moderate yields. Intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation of an aromatic compound with Meldrum s acid has also been reported using catalytic amounts of Al(OTf)3. Acylation of 2-methoxynaphthalene with acetic anhydride has been reported using Al(OTf)3 and lithium perchlorate as an additive to afford the corresponding 6-acetylated adduct in 83% yield. Effective acylation of arenes with carboxylic acids has also been disclosed using polystyrene-supported Al(OTf)3. ... 

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