Acetylation and benzoylation of various aromatics on sulfated zirconia

• Published in: Journal of molecular catalysis. A, Chemical Chemical, 2004-01, Vol.207 (1), p.51-57
• Main Authors: Deutsch, J, Trunschke, A, Müller, D, Quaschning, V, Kemnitz, E, Lieske, H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetophenones; Acylation; Benzophenones; Catalysis; Catalytic reactions; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Solid acids; Sulfated zirconia; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry
• ISSN: 1381-1169; 1873-314X
• DOI: 10.1016/S1381-1169(03)00471-0

Anisole, 2-chloroanisole, 3-chloroanisole, mesitylene, m-xylene, and toluene were reacted on sulfated zirconia (SZ) as a heterogeneous catalyst with benzoic anhydride, benzoyl chloride, and acetic anhydride to give the resulting benzophenones and acetophenones, respectively. Sulfated zirconia (SZ) has been found to have a high performance in the benzoylation of anisole. Thus, several aromatics were reacted with benzoic anhydride, benzoyl chloride, and acetic anhydride as acylating agents on SZ, to give the corresponding benzophenones and acetophenones. The rate of the acylation reactions is dependent on the nature of the respective aromatic. The reactivity decreases in the following order: anisole>mesitylene > 3-chloroanisole ∼ m-xylene ∼ 2-chloroanisole > toluene for benzoylations on SZ. The application of SZ as a catalyst for the acetylation of aromatics was only successful in case of anisole.