Metal triflate-catalyzed cationic benzylation and allylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds

The rare earth metal and hafnium triflate-catalyzed secondary benzylation and allylation of 1,3-diketones, ketoesters, and ketoamides are described. The procedure was carried out under non-anhydrous conditions. Various 1-phenylethyl cations were generated from substituted 1-phenylethanols using 0.5 mol % of the metal triflates in CH3NO2. The cations reacted with 1,3-diketones and ketoesters to give benzylated products in high yields. Following the GC analysis, the reaction conditions were easily optimized by the selection of catalysts based on the Lewis acidity of the triflates and reaction temperature. A tertiary-alkylated diketone and a corresponding ketoester were also benzylated to afford products with a quaternary carbon atom in 57-84% yield. The ketoamide reactions required stronger Lewis acids than those used in the diketone and ketoester reactions. The reactions of benzylic alcohols possessing various substituents on the aromatic ring and dibenzoylmethane (2b) as a diketone were examined in the presence of Hf(OTf)(4). Electron-rich benzylic alcohols reacted with 2b in 86-96% yield, and electron-deficient alcohol gave the desired product in 79-65% yield. Despite possessing a strong electron-withdrawing group, the reaction of 1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanol gave the corresponding product in 61% yield. It was also possible to use allylic alcohols directly for the allylation of diketone 2b. The catalyst can be recovered by water extraction and reused up to five times.