Palladium and Copper‐Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts Acylation with Activated Amides

Abstract

The Friedel‐Crafts acylation reaction between activated amides and arenes was carried out by employing [Pd(cinnamyl)Cl]2 and Cu(OTf)2 as catalysts. A range of N‐phenyl‐N‐tosylbenzamides, which were substituted at the phenyl ring of the benzamide moiety, underwent reaction with various arenes, such as mesitylene, toluene, anisole, 4‐tert‐butylbenzene, o‐xylene, m‐xylene, and p‐xylene, affording the corresponding diaryl ketones with yields ranging from 49% to 89%.