Synthesis 2005(1): 39-46  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-834910
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Friedel-Crafts Cyclization of 1,1-Difluoroalk-1-enes: Synthesis of Benzene-Fused Cyclic Ketones via α-Fluorocarbocations

Junji Ichikawa*a, Hideharu Jyonob, Takao Kudob, Masaki Fujiwaraa, Misaki Yokotaa
a Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Fax: +81(3)58414345; e-Mail: junji@chem.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp;
b Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Sensui-cho, Tobata, Kitakyushu 804-8550, Japan
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Publication History

Received 10 August 2004
Publication Date:
17 November 2004 (online)

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Abstract

1,1-Difluoroalk-1-enes bearing a phenyl group at the C-3, -4, or -5 position, readily obtained from 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl p-toluenesulfonate, are treated with FSO3H·SbF5 to undergo Friedel-Crafts cyclization in (CF3)2CHOH. The cyclization takes place via α-fluorocarbocations, followed by spontaneous hydrolysis of the C-F bond to afford bicyclic ketones including a five, six, or seven-membered ring in good yield.