4683-97-0Relevant academic research and scientific papers
Alkyltrifluoromethanesulphonates as alkylating reagents for aromatic compounds
Booth, Brian L.,Haszeldine, Robert N.,Laali, Khosrow
, p. 2887 - 2893 (2007/10/02)
Methyl and ethyl trifluoromethanesulphonates (' triflates '), prepared by conventional routes involving either trifluoromethanesulphonic acid (' triflic acid ') or its anhydride, contain traces of triflic acid as an impurity, which catalyse their alkylation reactions with aromatic compounds. Pure methyl triflate, obtained from reaction between CH3l and CFS03Ag, does not alkylate p-cymene after several hours at 100 °C. Pure ethyl triflate, prepared by a similar method, is thermally less stable under these conditions, and alkylation takes place only after long induction periods during which some breakdown to triflic acid occurs. With aromatic substrates such as p-cymene or mesitylene the onset of alkylation is followed rapidly by the formation of isomerisation and disproportionation products. Benzyl triflate, prepared from PhCH2Br and CF3SO3Ag, alkylates p-cymene even at room temperature. The strong Lewis acids SbF5 and AlCl3 similarly catalyse alkylation reactions of methyl and ethyl triflates, but BF3, FeCl3, and SnCl4 are much less effective.
