Acylation of aromatic ethers over solid acid catalysts: scope of the reaction with more complex acylating agents

Acylation of anisole with 2-phenylbutanoic acid derivatives, over zeolite catalysts, gives the corresponding 4-acyl derivatives with high regioselectivity. In an analogous way, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran reacts with acid anhydrides or chlorides in the presence of catalytic quantities of zeolites to give the corresponding 5-acyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans. The zeolite can be recovered, regenerated and used again to give almost the same yield as with fresh zeolite. The reaction has been applied to the synthesis of ethyl (2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-yl)glyoxylate.