Hydroxylation reactions of arenes and acylation using Lewis acid catalysts

The purpose of this study was to perform hydroxylation and acylation reactions of arenes using Lewis acid catalysts in order to establish the involvement or otherwise of ipso-attack, and in addition to investigate the isomer distributions in certain reactions in order to evaluate the involvement of either radical or cationic mechanisms by comparison with results to be obtained using established free radical hydroxylating agents. No study of such reactions was available before the present study was initiated. It was hoped to design new reagents to carry out a number of electrophilic addition-with-elimination reactions of arenes. [Continues.]