Gallium nonafluorobutanesulfonate as an efficient catalyst in Friedel-Crafts acylation

Catalytic Friedel-Crafts acylation of even inactivated benzenes has been su ccessfully carried out using a gallium compound. In the presence of a catal ytic amount of gallium nonafluorobutanesulfonate (1-5 mol%), aromatics incl uding inactivated benzenes such as fluorobenzene, chlorobenzene, and dichlo robenzene reacted with carboxylic acid chlorides or anhydrides to afford th e corresponding aromatic ketones in good to excellent yields. Contrary to t raditional understandings, catalytic Friedel-Crafts acylation was successfu lly carried out using the group 13 compound.