Esters as acylating reagent in a Friedel-Crafts reaction: indium tribromide catalyzed acylation of arenes using dimethylchlorosilane.

The Friedel-Crafts acylation of arenes with esters by dimethylchlorosilane and 10 mol % of indium tribromide has been achieved. The key intermediate RCOOSi(Cl)Me(2) is generated from alkoxy esters with the evolution of the corresponding alkanes. The scope of the alkoxy ester moiety was wide: tert-butyl, benzyl, allyl, and isopropyl esters were successful. In addition, we demonstrated the direct synthesis of the indanone intermediate 11 of salviasperanol from ester 10.