A novel catalytic method for the acylation of aromatics to the corresponding ketones over zeolite catalysts

A novel and convenient procedure for the catalytic acylation of a series of aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, xylenes (o-, m-, p-), mesitylene, isopropylbenzene and N,N-dimethylaniline to the corresponding ketones using medium- and large-pore zeolites as catalyst and acetic acid or acetyl chloride as acylating agent at different reaction temperatures in a tubular reactor is demonstrated for the first time. The H-ZSM5 and H-beta zeolite catalysts exhibited the higher turnover rates (TOF x 10(-3) s(-1) mol(-1) Al) for the acetic acid or acetyl chloride conversion to the products. In some cases. nearly total conversion of acylating agent with very high selectivity to the para product is achieved. It is found that the reactivity of the aromatic compounds increases with the increase of -CH3 groups in the benzene ring. Mechanistically, it is assumed that an active species (CH3CO+) is generated catalytically from the acylating agent by an acidic zeolite which attacks the aromatic ring and produces corresponding aromatic ketones.