Friedel-Crafts Acylations with Little or No Catalyst

Abstract

With active aromatic nuclei, Friedel-Crafts acylation occurs, usually in modest amounts, without the presence of a catalyst, Catalysts in small amounts increase the rate and yield of the reaction. The most widely employed catalysts appear to be ferric chloride, iodine, zinc chloride, and iron. The most satisfactory yields were obtained with aryl ethers, polynuclear arenes, and thiophene.