Abstract

Traditional Friedel-Crafts acylation reactions of aromatics suffer from low regio-selectivity towards para- or more linear isomers and usually require stoichiometric quantities of Lewis acids, which are hydrolysed to produce toxic waste during aqueous work-up. Zeolites can catalyse and enhance the selectivity in Friedel-Crafts acylation reactions of simple aromatics and heterocycles. For example, high regioselectivity was achieved in acylation of aromatic ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocycles over zeolites. This brief review highlights the importance of zeolites to enhance the regioselectivity in Friedel-Crafts acylation reactions.

Keywords: Acylating reagents, aromatics, Friedel-Crafts acylation, heterocycles, regioselective, zeolite catalysts.

Graphical Abstract