Electrophilic activation of acetyl-substituted heteroaromatic compounds

The chemistry of acetyl-substituted pyridines, thiazoles, quinoline, isoquinolines, and pyrazine (1-9 and 28) has been studied. These heteroarenes (1-8) condense with benzene in good yields (74-96%) in the Bronsted superacid, CF(3)SO(3)H (triflic acid). In these acid-catalyzed hydroxyalkylation reactions, compounds 1-8 are significantly more reactive than acetophenone. It is proposed that compounds 1-8 readily form dicationic electrophiles in triflic acid.