Preparation of Lewis acid ionic liquids for one-pot synthesis of benzofuranol from pyrocatechol and 3-chloro-2-methylpropene

Abstract

AbstractSeveral Lewis acid ionic liquids (LAILs) with different acidic scales were synthesised and used as catalysts for the synthesis of benzofuranol by condensation of pyrocatechol and 3-chloro-2- methylpropene in one pot. The catalytic activity of these ionic liquids was correlated with their Lewis acidity. Low to moderate conversion with excellent selectivity to benzofuranol was obtained in the presence of the appropriate LAILs. Compared to the two-step synthetic method currently used in industry, a higher yield plateau (81.1 %) of benzofuranol was achieved in the presence of [BMIm][AlCl