Benzylation of 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds with Benzyl Alcohols Promoted by Perfluorosulfonic Acid Resin

Abstract The catalytic performance of Perfluorosulfonic acid resin (PFSA), a solid superacid, was studied in the catalytic benzylation of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with benzylic alcohols. The PFSA‐catalyzed reactions could proceed smoothly to provide the products under solvent‐free conditions or in toluene and dichloromethane, which gave moderate to excellent yields. Due to its high chemical stability, PFSA was quite stable under the reaction conditions and could be recovered at least eight times without significant reduction of its catalytic effect. Moreover, this reaction was investigated at a 20 mmol scale, which indicated the potential applicability of the large‐scale industrial synthesis. Finally, the mechanism of the PFSA‐catalyzed benzylation of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with benzylic alcohols was also investigated.