Preparation and Reactions of CF₃‐Containing Phthalides

Abstract

We have demonstrated that reactions of aromatic 1,2‐diesters and the Ruppert–Prakash reagent (TMSCF 3 ) afforded hitherto unknown phthalides 1 with both trifluoromethyl (CF 3 ) and alkoxy groups at the 3 position, and their unique transformation was also investigated in detail to attain construction of a variety of very rare types of compounds, such as 1,3‐dihydroisobenzofurans 8 as well as indanones 9 with a CF 3 moiety, whose behavior was completely different from the structurally similar compound 2a .