In my thesis, I tested the conversion of electron-rich aromatic compounds with carboxylic anhydrides and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The reaction is a sustainable alternative to the classical Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction because it allows for synthesis without the use of the toxic and hazardous catalyst AlCl₃. TFA acts as both a catalyst and a solvent, and it can be reused after the reaction, thus avoiding unnecessary waste. I conducted acylation on compounds with functional groups with different steric requirements. I also investigated the influence of structure of electron-poor and electron-rich aromatic compounds on the acylation pathway.
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