Surprising catalytic activity of bismuth (III) triflate in the Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)10401-4

Bismuth tris-trifluoromethanesulfonate (Bi(OTf)₃) was found to be a novel catalyst for rile Friedel-Crafts acylation. The reactions of activated or deactivated benzenes such as fluorobenzene proceeded in high yields in the presence of a catalytic amount of Bi(OTf)₃. This catalyst is water stable and its catalytic activity is much higher than the one of the other metallic triflates M(OTf)₃ previously reported (M = Al, Ga, Ln or Sc).