Chapter 3 - Recent advances in applications of Friedel–Crafts reactions in total synthesis of alkaloids

Abstract

The Friedel-Crafts (FC) reactions in organic chemistry are referred to two main types of reactions, known as alkylation reactions and acylation reactions. In general, FC reactions are frequently employed for the attachment of substituents to an aromatic ring. Historically, in 1887 Charles Friedel and James Mason Crafts successfully obtained amylbenzene, when they treated amyl chloride with AlCl3 in benzene. Both types of the FC reactions are classified as electrophilic aromatic substitution. FC alkylation comprises the alkylation of an aromatic ring with an alkyl halide catalyzed by strong Lewis acids such as aluminum chloride, ferric chloride, or other MXn reagents. In this chapter, we try to follow and cover, the total synthesis of alkaloids using Friedel-Crafts reaction.