Alkenes Friedel-Crafts reactions, aluminum chloride

The most general method for direct introduction of alkyl groups on an aromatic ring system is the Friedel-Crafts reaction. It involves generation of a carbonium ion intermediate or a related electrophilic carbon species. The most general method for generating these electrophiles involves reaction between an alkyl halide and a Lewis acid. The most common Lewis acid for preparative work is aluminum chloride. Alternative routes to the alkylating species include protonation (followed by dehydration) of alcohols and protonation of alkenes. 

In 1877, Charles Friedel and James Mason Crafts [30a, b] corporately discovered that treatment of amyl chloride with aluminum strips in benzene led to the formation of amylben-zene. This type of transformation was found to be general for alkyl halides and aromatics under the catalysis of Lewis acid. Along with the discovery of the closely related acylation [30c, d], these two men are best remembered by Friedel-Crafts reaction that bears their names. With various modem modifications that appeared in the Uterature, including enan-tioselective variants [31], Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation have already become one of the most powerful C—C bond forming reactions in organic chemistry [32]. These methods are recognized to date as of fundamental importance not only in acadania but also in industry [33]. As shown in Scheme 10.18, some heteroaromatics, instead of the aryl component or alcohol, and alkenes instead of halides can be used as suitable substrates. Also, other common Lewis acids like BFj, TiCl, SnCl, ScfOTOj, etc., and Brpnsted acids snch as HF, H SO, and superacids (e.g., HF SbFj, HS03-SbFj) can also used as catalysts. 

An important use of the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction is to effect ring closure. The most common method is to heat with aluminum chloride an aromatic compound having a halogen, hydroxy, or alkene group in the proper position, as, for example, in the preparation of tetralin ... 

AICI3 is a moisture-sensitive and strong Lewis acid. It is a first choice for Friedel-Crafts-type reactions, which provide numerous important transformations in laboratory and industry. It can also be applied to the transformation of alkenes to ketones via alkylaluminum halides.303 Hydrozirconation of an olefin and subsequent transmetalation from zirconium to aluminum gives the corresponding alkylaluminum dichloride, and the subsequent acetylation by acetyl chloride affords the corresponding ketone in high yield (Scheme 66). 

Alkylation. Friedel-Crafts alkylation (qv) of benzene with ethylene or propylene to produce ethylbenzene [100-41 -4], CgH10, or isopropylbenzene [98-82-8], C9H12 (cumene) is readily accomplished in the liquid or vapor phase with various catalysts such as BF3 (22), aluminum chloride, or supported polyphosphoric acid. The oldest method of alkylation employs the liquid-phase reaction of benzene with anhydrous aluminum chloride and ethylene (23). Ethylbenzene is produced commercially almost entirely for styrene manufacture. Cumene [98-82-8] is catalytically oxidized to cumene hydroperoxide, which is used to manufacture phenol and acetone. Benzene is also alkylated with C1Q—C20 linear alkenes to produce linear alkyl aromatics. Sulfonation of these compounds produces linear alkane sulfonates (LAS) which are used as biodegradable deteigents. 

Silicon has also been used to control the acylation of 1,3-dienes in a manner analogous to the situation with alkenes. Isoprenylation with 2-trimethylsilylmethylbuta-1,3-diene follows the course expected of acylation of the allylic silane. In these very rapid reactions, titanium tetrachloride seems to be one of the more efficient catalysts, as is aluminum chloride. The method was used in synthetic approaches to the terpenes ipsenol (14) and ipsdienol (15 Scheme 16). Of particular interest is the comparison of this iso-prenylating agent with isoprene itself. The examples of Friedel-Crafts acylations cited show the regio-control that can be achieved by suitable choice of substrate. 

These reactions occur at about 100°C using aluminum chloride as a catalyst. This accepts a lone pair of electrons from the halogen atom on the haloalkane or acyl halide, which results in a positive charge on the adjoining carbon atom. The reaction is then ELECTROPHILIC SUBSTITUTION. It is also possible to use alkenes (for alkylation) and acid anhydrides (for acylation). It is named for the French chemist Charles Friedel (1832-99) and the US chemist James Crafts (1832-99). 

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