Points to Remember about Friedel-Crafts Reactions
The following points need to be remembered about Friedel-Craft Reactions:
- Lewis Acid Power: Friedel-Crafts reactions need a Lewis acid catalyst (like AlCl3) to activate the reaction and make it work.
- Alkyl vs. Acyl: Two main types: Alkylation adds a short carbon chain, while acylation adds an acyl group (often forming a ketone). Acylation generally gives more product.
- Yield vs. Regioselectivity: Acylation often has a better yield (product amount) than alkylation (prone to overalkylation). Both can be tricky to control where the new group attaches to the aromatic ring.
- Limitations: Not ideal for very deactivated aromatic rings, and Lewis acid catalysts are corrosive and require caution.
- Alternatives and Importance: Though not perfect, Friedel-Crafts reactions are still useful for making various chemicals. Greener catalysts and alternative methods like Suzuki-Miyaura coupling are being developed.
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Friedel–Crafts Reaction
Friedel–Crafts Reaction was discovered by French chemist Charles Friedel and the American chemist James Crafts in the late 19th century. There are two main types of Friedel-Crafts reactions, namely, Friedel-Crafts Alkylation and Friedel-Crafts Acylation.
In this article, we will read in detail about the Friedel Craft Reaction, its types, mechanisms, and examples.