SELECTIVE FRIEDEL-CRAFTS ALKYLATION ON A VERMICULITE, A HIGHLY-ACTIVE NATURAL CLAY MINERAL WITH LEWIS ACID SITES

Acid-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions of p-methylbenzyl chloride with benzene were carried out on four unmodified natural clay minerals. Phenyl-p-tolylmethane was quickly and selectively formed in the presence of vermiculite. Although the specific surface area of vermiculite is smaller than those of the other clay minerals examined, such a characteristic property of vermiculite as a catalyst may be attributed to the absence of Bronsted acid sites and to the Lewis acid sites on the outer surface of vermiculite.