Friedel–Crafts: A Key Step in the Synthesis of Pharmaceutical Compounds

Abstract

This comprehensive review provides a consolidated and practically oriented overview of the Friedel–Crafts reaction in pharmaceutical synthesis, bringing together data from 93 peer-reviewed studies published between 1962 and 2025. Through a structured and comparative analysis of the literature retrieved from the Scopus and PubMed databases, this work integrates scattered information into a single, accessible resource, designed to guide researchers in drug discovery and development. The findings identify alkylation and acylation as the dominant Friedel–Crafts transformations, often enabling the synthesis of pharmacologically relevant scaffolds depending on substrate structure and the efficiency and selectivity of the catalytic system. These include compounds with anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potential. Trends in catalyst and solvent selection highlight both the persistent reliance on classical Lewis acids in chlorinated media and a gradual interest in more sustainable alternatives, although their adoption remains system-dependent. By consolidating 63 years of research into a unified reference, this review underscores the versatility and enduring relevance of Friedel–Crafts methodologies in medicinal chemistry but also offers a data-driven foundation for their optimized and more sustainable application in future pharmaceutical development.