Zincke‐Suhl Reaction

Abstract

The preparation of 4‐methyl‐4‐trichloromethyl cyclohexa‐2,5‐dienone by treatment of p ‐cresol with aluminum chloride in carbon tetrachloride is generally referred to as the Zincke–Suhl reaction. This reaction has been compared with the Friedel–Crafts alkylation. The study finds that BF 3 and SnCl 4 are not effectual activators for the Zincke–Suhl reaction. Furthermore, three locations as possible reaction sites have been noticed in the reaction of p ‐cresol with CCl 4 in the presence of AlCl 3 . It has been reported that the 4‐alkyl‐4‐trichloromethyl‐cyclohexa‐2,5‐dienones practically undergo rearrangements to resume the aromaticity in the presence of an acid, affording various products, depending on the structure of substituted cyclohexa‐2,5‐dienones and the reaction conditions. The migratory aptitude of groups follow the Pinacol rearrangement, where a phenyl group is a preferred group compared to methyl group. This reaction has wide applications in organic synthesis.