a Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2G2 b Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd, 2100 rue Cunard, Laval, QC, Canada H7S 2G5
Abstract:
Trifluoromethanesulfonimide is an effective catalyst for Friedel-Crafts cyclizations of simple, nonpolarized alkenes with a variety of pendant arenes. A catalyst loading of 0.5 - 1.0 mol % effects clean cyclization to form 5- to 7-membered carbocycles with generally short reaction times and good to excellent yields under reflux or microwave heating.