Metal triflates–methanesulfonic acid as new catalytic systems: application to the Fries rearrangement

A surprising synergistic effect has been discovered between metal triflates (Mg, Ca, Sc, Cu, Zn, Y, Ln, Bi) and methanesulfonic acid, leading to active catalytic systems for the Fries rearrangement. In particular, the systems based on yttrium and copper(II) triflate proved to be very active and much cheaper than scandium triflate. The efficiency of these systems might result from the catalytic Lewis acid activation of Brønsted acids.