Synthesis of novel acetates of beta-caryophyllene under solvent-free Lewis acid catalysis.

Acylation of beta-caryophyllene, a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon with acetic anhydride, was carried out under mild catalytic conditions using Lewis acids such as BF3.Et2O, ZnCl2, FeCl3, I2 and AlCl3 as catalysts. Among these, BF3.Et2O was found to catalyse the reaction most efficiently, yielding three acylated products in 75% yield under solvent-free conditions. The structures were confirmed by NMR and MS techniques.