FeCl3and ether mediated direct intramolecular acylation of esters and their application in efficient preparation of xanthone and chromone derivatives

The direct intramolecular acylation of esters was developed by using the combined system of FeCl3 with Cl2CHOCH3. This unique cooperative system offered a new and efficient approach to biologically important xanthone and chromone derivatives with regioselectivity. Examples were reported, and control experiments were carried out to examine the effect of the benzyl esters and Cl2CHOCH3.