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In situ generated superacid BF3–H2O catalyzed alkylation of p-quinols with diaryl carbinols leading to triarylmethanes

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Abstract

In this paper, a highly efficient and sustainable synthesis of triarylmethanes through the dehydrative coupling of p-quinols with diaryl carbinols is presented. The catalyst involved in this protocol is in situ generated superacid BF3–H2O from BF3–OEt2. Therefore, moisture has been used as an efficient initiator in this reaction system. A variety of diaryl carbinols and p-quinols have been investigated and found to be compatible to give the triarylmethanes in yields up to 96%.

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Acknowledgement

We gratefully acknowledge the SERB [Research grant No. EMR/2017/000174] for financial support and the DST for providing the HRMS facility in the FIST program. P. S. thanks UGC, New Delhi, for a research fellowship.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India

    Pallavi Singh & Rama Krishna Peddinti

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  1. Pallavi Singh
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Correspondence to Rama Krishna Peddinti.

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Singh, P., Peddinti, R.K. In situ generated superacid BF3–H2O catalyzed alkylation of p-quinols with diaryl carbinols leading to triarylmethanes. J Chem Sci 134, 63 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12039-022-02054-0

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