Studies on the Phthalidation of Heteroarenes: A Facile Preparation of 3-(Heteroaryl)phthalides via Triflic Acid Mediated Phthalidation

A triflic acid mediated heteroarylation of phthalaldehydic acid in 1,2-dichloroethane at reflux temperature leads to the formation of 3-heteroarylphthalides. This method for the phthalidation of heteroarenes can be utilized for the successful preparation of mono-, bis- and tris-heteroarylphthalides.