title: BF3.2CF3CH2OH (BF3.2TFE), an efficient superacidic catalyst for some organic synthetic transformations.
abstract: BF3.2CF3CH2OH complex was found to be a very effective superacidic catalyst comparable in acid strength to at least that of 100% anhydrous sulfuric acid for various acid-catalyzed organic transformations such as isomerizations, rearrangements, ionic hydrogenation of various ketones, and aromatics with triethylsilane and nitration of aromatics with metal nitrate. Studies of the pivalaldehyde-methyl isopropyl ketone rearrangement and the benzopinacol to phenanthrene transformation suggest that the complex has an acidity comparable to that of 100% anhydrous sulfuric acid. The structure and properties of the 1:2 boron trifluoride-trifluoroethanol complex have been further studied using NMR (1H, 13C, 19F, 11B) and DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G//B3LYP/6-31G level.
authors: Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, 837 Bloom Walk, Los Angeles, California 90089-1661, USA. gprakash@usc.edu
authors: G K Surya
authors: GK
authors: Prakash
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Mathew
authors: Eric R
authors: ER
authors: Marinez
authors: Pierre M
authors: PM
authors: Esteves
authors: Golam
authors: G
authors: Rasul
authors: George A
authors: GA
authors: Olah