Aldehyde Bis-arylation by Metal Triflates Including Bismuth Triflate Powder

Development of an efficient catalytic reaction promoted by a metal triflate has been emphasized in contemporary synthesis. To evaluate the potential of some metal trflates such as bismuth triflate in our process research, we devised here an expedient protocol for its preparation and characterization. Comparison of its catalytic activity with other well-known metal triflates such as scandium triflate and copper triflate was made in a glyoxylate arylation reaction, which is a useful transformation for the construction of a 1,1-diarylethane skeleton. Furthermore, NMR analysis of Bi(OTf)3 in acetone-d 6 revealed the unique nature and reactivity of the triflate, which has not heretofore been disclosed.