Cycloacylation of chloro-substituted hydroquinone dimethyl ethers with dichloromaleic anhydride

Abstract

Under the drastic conditions of Zahn—Ochwat cycloacylation of 2-chloroand 2,3-dichlorohydroquinones with dichloromaleic anhydride (a melt of anhydrous AlCl₃ and NaCl, 185—195 °C), the substrates undergo various degrees of disproportionation, which reduces the yields of the target triand tetrachloronaphthazarins. Quantum chemical calculations showed that the cycloacylation in question proceeds as a double aromatic electrophilic substitution of the vicinal protons with the corresponding oxocarbenium ions (acylium cations).