Friedel-crafts benzylation of arenes over mixed oxides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/jccs.200400021

The replacement of liquid acid catalyst by solid acids for the Friedel-Crafts reaction of aromatic alkylation is a challenging task. Mixed oxide possessing spinel structures were found to catalyze the Friedel-Craft benzylation of arenes. It was found that the reaction was very fast at 80 °C, hence the reaction was studied with respect to more substrate. The significant point was even at this temperature monobenzylation, with the para isomer predominating, was achieved. Mixed oxides were prepared by co-precipitation method and were characterized by XRD technique.