Lability of the trifluoromethyl group of trifluoromethoxybenzenes under HF/Lewis acid conditions

The trifluoromethyl functionality of trifluoromethoxybenzenes (trifluoromethyl phenyl ethers) becomes labile under HF/Lewis acid conditions. Substrates with an unsubstituted para-position shed their –CF3 groups while performing a Friedel–Crafts reaction upon another substrate molecule's trifluoromethoxy group to generate p-rosolic acids. Substrates that had blocking groups at the para-positions reacted ortho. The electron donating substituents methoxy and phenoxy interfered with the formation of rosolic acids.

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