Ferric chloride catalyzed acylation reactions in ionic liquids

CHED 395

Kady-Ann C. Steen, kadyann.steen@fandm.edu and Marcus W. Thomsen, marcus.thomsen@fandm.edu. Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, P.O. Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
Ferric chloride has been used as a catalyst along with ionic liquids has for Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation reactions of various aromatic compounds, such as biphenyl, naphthalene and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene. For these acylation reactions, acetyl chloride has been used as the acylating agent. Additionally, cyclic alkenes have been successfully acylated using this method. The compounds produced from the cyclic alkenes were observed to be α,β-enones which are important intermediates for a variety of synthetic pathways.