One-pot tandem hydrophenylation and ionic hydrogenation of 3-phenylpropynoic acid derivatives under superelectrophilic activation

The reactions of esters and amides of 3-phenylpropynoic acid with strong Lewis acids AlX3 (X = Cl, Br) or conjugate Brønsted-Lewis superacids HX-AlX3 (X = Cl, Br) in benzene and cyclohexane at room temperature afforded 3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid derivatives in up to 94% yield. This tandem reaction of the acetylene bond proceeded by hydrophenylation followed by ionic hydrogenation.

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