BTISA-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts bimolecular cyclization of cinnamic acid under superelectrophilic solvation conditions

Friedel–Crafts bimolecular cyclizations of cinnamic acid and cinnamoyl chloride with aromatic compounds in strong and superstrong acids in present of 1 mol% BTISA were investigated. It was demonstrated that catalytic amounts of this new superacid have essential effect on such type of reactions. Its use makes possible the preparation of indanones with quantitative yields.