Rapid and convenient synthesis of aryl- and heteroaryl-α-hydroxy-α-trifluoromethyl acetate via Friedel–Crafts alkylation under solvent- and catalyst-free conditions

Solvent- and catalyst-free Friedel–Crafts alkylation reactions of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds with methyl trifluoropyruvate (2) were carried out at room temperature and finished in several minutes with good to excellent yields of the addition products (69→99%), which provided a rapid and convenient method to synthesize aryl- and heteroaryl-α-hydroxy-α-triflouromethyl acetates.