Bismuth Triflate-Catalyzed Fries Rearrangement of Aryl Acetates

Bismuth triflate was found to be an efficient catalyst in the Fries rearrangement of phenyl or 1-naphthyl acetates. Both reactions proceeded smoothly with a catalytic amount of bismuth triflate (10 mol%) to afford the corresponding hydroxyaryl ketone in moderate to good yields in most cases.