Improved Sommelet reaction catalysed by lanthanum triflate

Abstract

An improved Sommelet reaction for the synthesis of araldehydes from benzyl halides and hexamethylenetetramine was achieved employing lanthanum triflate (3 mol%) as catalyst in water with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, 2 wt%) as solubiliser. Good to excellent yields were obtained in most of the 18 examples.