10359-91-8Relevant academic research and scientific papers
TRIFLUOROMETHANESULPHONIC ACID AS A CATALYST FOR THE ETHYLATION OF BENZENE
Booth, Brian L.,Al-Kinany, Mohammed,Laali, Khosrow
, p. 2049 - 2056 (2007/10/02)
At room temperature and a pressure of ethene of 1 atm, anhydrous trifluoromethanesulfonic (triflic) acid is a more effective catalyst for the ethylation of benzene than AlCl3, FSO3H, and anhydrous H2SO4.It has an activity comparable to that found for a 1:1 mixture of FSO3H-SbF5, and under the most favourable conditions the yield of ethylbenzene is ca. 38percent based on the amount of benzene reacted.Although the initial rate of ethylation is rapid, the raction effectively ceases after 30-60 min depending on the reaction conditions.The reason for this has mainly been shown to be strong complexation of the triflic acid to polyethylbenzene derivatives in the catalyst layer, but also, in part to the competing formation of ethyl triflate, wich is inactive as an ethylating agent under the conditions used.
