Acetylation of 2,3-dimethylbenzofuran. The first example of a ‘non-conventional’ Friedel–Crafts reaction
Abstract
In the acetylation of 2,3-dimethylbenzofuran (I) by Ac2O and SnCl4 in 1,2-dichloroethane, besides the main product of the reaction, 6-acetyl-2,3-dimethyl-benzofuran (IV), 2-acetyl-3-ethylbenzofuran (II) is also obtained in 9% yield, probably via attack of the electrophile at the 2-position of (I) and subsequent rearrangement of the 2-methyl group.