H3PW12O40-catalysed alkylation of arenes and diveratrylmethanes: Convenient routes to triarylmethanes and to symmetrical and unsymmetrical 9,10-diaryl-2,3,6,7-tetramethoxyanthracenes

Abstract

An efficient method for the synthesis of triarylmethanes and difurylarylmethanes through solventless reactions between aldehydes and arenes in the presence of H3PW12O40 as a reusable catalyst under thermal and microwave irradiation conditions has been developed. H3PW12O40-catalysed one-pot consecutive Friedel-Crafts reactions between veratrole and aldehydes were also applied as a convenient protocol for the preparation of symmetrical 9,10-diaryl-2,3,6,7- tetramethoxyanthracenes. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.