Process for the manufacture of aromatic 1,3-diketones

Claim 1

A process for the preparation of an aromatic 1,3-diketone which comprises reacting acetoacetylfluoride, or an acetoacetylfluoride substituted at the gamma-position by up to three halogens selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine and bromine, with an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of naphthalene; naphthalene substituted by up to three substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and alkoxy of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; naphthalene with one or more condensed rings thereon having in total up to 20 carbon atoms; naphthalene with one or more condensed rings thereon and substituted by up to three sustituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 of 4 carbon atoms and alkoxy of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, having in total up to 20 carbon atoms; benzene of the formula ##STR4## wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 each is hydrogen, alkyl of up to 12 carbon atoms, alkoxy of up to 12 atoms, alkylthio of up to 12 carbon atoms or benzyloxy or R 1 is phenyloxy, substituted phenyloxy, phenylthio, substituted phenylthio or halogen, or wherein R 1 and R 2 together form alkylene of 4 carbon atoms; diphenyl of the formula ##STR5## wherein X is O, S or alkylene of up to 4 carbon atoms; dibenzofurane; dibenzo-p-dioxane; thiophene; monoalkylthiophene; dialkylthiophene; benzothiophene; 2,2' -dimethoxy diphenyl ether; 3-chloro-pyrene; and 2-anisyl-chloracetic acid ester, at a temperature of about -30°C. to about +20° C. in the presence of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride or hydrofluoric acid having a minimum amount of hydrogen fluoride of about 90% by weight.