The β-Silyl Effect on the Memory of Chirality in Friedel–Crafts Alkylation Using Chiral α-Aryl Alcohols

Iron salt-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts alkylation of chiral α-aryl alcohols with a trimethylsilyl group was found to proceed with retention of the configuration of the hydroxyl group as a leaving group. The memory of chirality of this system stems from the β-silyl effect of the trimethylsilyl group on the carbocation intermediate.