The phenylation of enols and of enolate anions of ketones, β-diketones and keto esters has been studied using a range of Bi reagents. Under basic conditions C-phenylation is observed and, even hindered, perphenylated compounds are easily synthesized. Under neutral and acidic conditions ordinary ketones do not react and enolic systems give O-phenylation. A number of other anions have been phenylated under basic conditions, including the key compound indole which mainly gave 3-C-phenylation. All these reactions can be supposed to have one of two alternative mechanisms, which parallel the two mechanisms proposed for the phenylation of phenols.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
BARTON et al. (1985) studied this question.