The Discovery-Oriented Approach to Organic Chemistry. 7. Rearrangement of trans-Stilbene Oxide with Bismuth Trifluoromethanesulfonate and Other Metal Triflates

A microscale discovery-oriented experiment illustrating the rearrangement of trans -stilbene oxide using non-corrosive metal triflates as catalysts has been developed. The use of CDCl3 as the reaction solvent eliminates the need for any workup and avoids the use of highly toxic boron trifluoride etherate as a catalyst and additional reaction solvent.