Pollution prevention reaction pathway synthesis

The synthesis of the substituted benzophenone shown below provides an instructive example of what we are trying to do. In principle, it could be synthesized by several possible pathways. However, if one asked any group of organic chemists how to make this compound, the Friedel-Crafts pathway would be suggested as the first choice by almost everyone. This speaks to the conceptual redirection that needs to be made if pollution prevention is to be successful. Our alternative involves the use of a quinone such as benzoquinone, an aldehyde and visible light (6). If the benzoquinone needed for the reaction was generated by the method of Frost (7), the overall approach would tmly be environmentally benign. 

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