Recyclable hafnium(IV) bis(perfluorooctanesulfonyl)amide complex for catalytic Friedel–Crafts acylation and Prins reaction in fluorous biphase system

In fluorous biphase system, hafnium(IV) bis(perfluorooctanesulfonyl)amide complex (Hf[N(SO2C8F17)2]4) was found to be a highly reactive and recyclable Lewis acid catalyst for Friedel–Crafts acylation and Prins reaction at significantly low catalyst loadings (≤1 mol%). In these reactions, Hf[N(SO2C8F17)2]4 is selectively soluble in the lower fluorous phase and can be recovered simply by phase separation. Furthermore, the catalyst can be reused without decrease of activity.