Solid-supported Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction scheme

The ability of iron(III) chloride genuinely to catalyze Friedel-Crafts acylation reactions has also been recognized by Holderich and co-workers [97]. By immobilizing the ionic liquid [BMIM]Cl/FeCl3 on a solid support, Holderich was able to acetylate mesitylene, anisole, and m-xylene with acetyl chloride in excellent yield. The performance of the iron-based ionic liquid was then compared with that of the corresponding chlorostannate(II) and chloroaluminate(III) ionic liquids. The results are given in Scheme 5.1-67 and Table 5.1-5. As can be seen, the iron catalyst gave superior results to the aluminium- or tin-based catalysts. The reactions were also carried out in the gas phase at between 200 and 300 °C. The acetylation reac-... 

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