A Study of the Competitive Reaction of C-Acylation Versus O-Acylation on the 3,4-Dichloroacetophenone

Quinolone derivatives have been used as antibacterial agents. In this work, the competitive C-and O-acylation reaction of 3,4-dichloroacetophenone, as a model study for the synthesis of quinolone intermediate, is studied. The effects of various bases, solvents and the leaving groups of acylating agents on the ratio of C-versus O-acylation of 3,4-dichloroacetophenone are elucidated by means of employing ethylchloroformate, ethylphenylcarbonate and diethylcarbonate as acylating agents. In aprotic solvents, C-acylation reactions occur more predominantly as the size of metal ions composing bases becomes smaller. Regarding the effects of leaving groups, it is shown that C-acylation product is increased as the ability of leaving groups of acylating agents decreases. The ratio of C/O-acylation is also observed to be increased as the polarity of solvents decreases.