Green and Mild Friedel-Crafts Benzylation of Arenes and Heteroarenes Under On Water Conditions

Among the most exploited reactions for the industrial synthesis of fine chemicals and pharmaceutical compounds, Friedel-Crafts alkylation, and particularly benzylation, of arenes and heteroarenes plays a major role. Usually, metal-transition based catalysts are employed on industrial scale, with issues related to the sustainability and costs of the catalysts. A greener approach involves the use of on water conditions. It is known that under on water conditions hydrophobic effect drives catalyst and reactants to aggregate, leading to an amplification of secondary interactions, with amazing outcomes in catalysis. In the present communication, we will show that under on water conditions,C-undecyl-resorcin[4]arene is able to catalyse Friedel-Crafts benzylation of several arenes andheteroarenes.