Rare earth(III) perfluorooctanesulfonates catalyzed Friedel–Crafts alkylation in fluorous biphase system

The catalyst of rare earth(III) perfluorooctanesulfonates (RE(OSO2C8F17)3, RE = Sc, Y, La–Lu) were prepared from either rare earth chlorides(III) or oxides and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. The perflates thus obtained act as novel catalysts for Friedel–Crafts alkylation in fluorous biphasic system. Perfluorohexane (C6F14), perfluoromethylcyclohexane (C7F14), perfluorotoluene (C7F8), perfluorooctane (C8F18), perfluorooctyl bromide (C8F17Br) and perfluorodecalin (C10F18, cis- and trans-mixture) can be used as fluorous solvents for this reaction. By simple separation of the fluorous phase containing only catalyst, alkylation can be repeated many times.