Phenol acylation benzoic anhydride

Zeolites H-BEA and H-Y were found to be the most active catalysts, however all catalysts readily form the phenyl benzoate (Table 4.1). In the conditions of the reaction, the formation of phenyl benzoate (PB) occurs rapidly via O-acylation of phenol. Direct C-alkylation of phenol with benzoic anhydride (B) and Fries rearrangement of phenyl benzoate results in the formation of 2- and 4-hydroxy-benzophenones (2-HPB and 4-HPB) (Scheme 4.3). 

Scheme 4.3 Reaction of phenol with benzoic anhydride O- and C-acylation and Fries rearrangement.

Unmodified BEA zeolite, on the other hand, shows the highest activity in the acylation of phenol wifh benzoic anhydride. Phenyl benzoate (PB) is the main product (61% yield), accompanied by C-acylated products (35%), with an interesting para-selectivity (ortho/para = 0.48). When the reaction time is increased from 4 to 20 h, an increase in para-hydroxy-benzophenone yield (from 11% to 23%) fogefher wifh a decrease in PB yield (from 79% to 64%) is observed however, a small increase in the orf/zo-hydroxybenzophenone yield (from 9% to 10%) cannof be avoided. The acfivify of the catalyst, together with its selectivity, does not distinctly decrease when the catalyst is used from fresh to firsf recycle. 

Mesylates are used for Ni-catalysed reactions. Arenediazodium salts 2 are very reactive pseudohalides undergoing facile oxidative addition to Pd(0). They are more easily available than aryl iodides or triflates. Also, acyl (aroyl) halides 4 and aroyl anhydrides 5 behave as pseudohalides after decarbonylation under certain conditions. Sulfonyl chlorides 6 react with evolution of SO2. Allylic halides are reactive, but their reactions via 7t-allyl complexes are treated in Chapter 4. Based on the reactions of those pseudohalides, several benzene derivatives such as aniline, phenol, benzoic acid and benzenesulfonic acid can be used for the reaction, in addition to phenyl halides. In Scheme 3.1, reactions of benzene as a parent ring compound are summarized. Needless to say, the reactions can be extended to various aromatic compounds including heteroaromatic compounds whenever their halides and pseudohalides are available. 

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