A high speed parallel synthesis of 1,2-diaryl-1-ethanones via a clean-chemistry C–C bond formation reaction

In this report, we describe the parallel as well as conventional synthesis of 1,2-diaryl-1-ethanones via environmentally benign acylation of arenes with in situ generated arylacetyl trifluoroacetates. A wide variety of arylacetic acids participated in trifluoroacetic anhydride/ phosphoric acid mediated C–C bond formation reaction when reacted with arenes of type to give 1,2-diaryl-1-ethanones in good to excellent yield. Under the solvent-free conditions these chemical transformations that normally require longer reaction time can be performed within minutes in good yield.