A range of metal bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]amide complexes, including many unreported ones, have been synthesised, most of which have been found to be excellent Friedel-Crafts acylation catalysts in the absence of solvent; these reactions have also been carried out in ionic liquids, which allow the catalysts to be recycled and reused.

Chloroindate(III) ionic liquids are versatile reaction media for Friedel-Crafts acylation reactions; the system is catalytic and totally recyclable, using an aqueous workup, with no leaching of the indium into the product phase.

Metal Bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}amide Complexes: Highly EfficientFriedel-Crafts Acylation Catalysts. -A range of metal bis{(trifluoromethyl)sul-fonyl}amide complexes is synthesized and found to be highly active Friedel-Crafts acylation catalysts in the absence of a solvent. These reaction are carried out also in ionic liquids, which allow to recycle and to reuse the catalyst. -(EARLE*, M. J.; HAKALA, U.; MCAULEY, B. J.; NIEUWENHUYZEN, M.; RAMANI, A.; SEDDON, K. R.; Chem. Commun. (Cambridge) 2004, 12, 1368-1369; QUILL Cent., Queen's Univ., Belfast BT9 5AG, UK; Eng.) -M. Paetzel 42-109

[reaction--see text] Samarium diiodide mediated reductive ring contraction of a substituted tricyclo[2.2.2]oxazine at 25 degrees C leads to a mixture of cyclopentane and cyclobutane rearrangement products with complete diastereoselectivity in each case. At -78 degrees C, the anticipated amidocyclohexanol reduction product is obtained exclusively, while the cyclopentane is the sole product at reflux in THF.

Reactions. -Friedel-Crafts acylation of a range of aromatic compounds (7 examples) is efficiently achieved using a chloroindate(III) ionic liquid. The system is catalytic and totally recyclable, using an aqueous work-up, with no leaching of the indium into the product phase. -(EARLE, M. J.; HAKALA, U.; HARDACRE, C.; KARKKAINEN, J.; MCAULEY, B. J.; RONNEY, D. W.; SEDDON, K. R.; THOMPSON, J. M.; WAEHAELAE, K.; Chem. Commun. (Cambridge) 2005, 7, 903-905; QUILL Cent., Queen's Univ., Belfast BT9 5AG, UK; Eng.) -F. Santoso 27-055