The Acetylations of Toluene and Benzene with Acetyl Chloride and Bromide and Acetic Anhydride Catalyzed by Calcined Iron Sulfate Activated by Exposure to a Mixture of Benzyl Chloride and the Aromatics.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.53.446

The acetylation of toluene and benzene with acetyl halides and acetic anhydride were studied over catalysts prepared by heat-treating FeSO4 in air, followed by activation on exposure to benzyl chloride in toluene or benzene at 40-80 deg C for 1 h, together with FeCl3 and AlCl3.The sulfates treated at 700 and 800 deg C showed high activity.The former, activated at 60 deg C, gave 68percent methylacetophenones, and the latter, more than 90percent, with an isomer distribution of 2percent ortho-, 1percent meta-, and 97percent para-form in the reaction of toluene with acetyl halides at room temperature, while the maximum yield was 24percent with FeCl3 and 29percent with AlCl3.A high yield of acetophenone, 77percent, was obtained over the FeSO4 (700 deg C) catalyst in the reaction of benzene with acetyl bromide at 60 deg C for 1 h.The present catalysts were also highly active for the acetylation of toluene with acetic anhydride; e.g., 55percent methylacetophenones were obtained over the FeSO4 (800 deg C) catalyst at 100 deg C for 5 h.FeCl3 and AlCl3 gave quite low yield compared with the present catalysts.