Phenols, reaction with acyl trifluoroacetates

During the total synthesis of phomazarin, D.L. Boger and co-workers closed the B ring of the natural product with a Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction." This key step provided the fully functionalized phomazarin skeleton. The carboxylic acid precursor was exposed to trifluoroacetic anhydride at 50 °C for 72h. The initial product was a C5 trifluoroacetate, which was subsequently hydrolyzed in the presence of air, which oxidized the phenol to the corresponding B-ring quinone. 

The acetylation (with AC2O and HC104) and Vilsmeier formylation of sterically hindered phenols have been investigated. Substituted o-hydroxy-benzophenones have been prepared in 18-68% yields by treatment of the HMPT complexes of bromomagnesium phenoxides with aromatic aldehydes. " Phenolic O- vs. C-benzoylation has been studied, with particular reference to 3,4-disubstituted phenols. Previous work on the use of trifluoroacetic anhydride to promote aromatic acylation has been extended to the preparation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical benzophenones via reaction between the methyl and benzyl ethers of orcinol and the same ethers of phloroglucinolcarboxylic acid. " Other phenolic acylations include some chalcone syntheses and the acetylation and benzoylation of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxyacetophenone (peonol). ... 

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