PERFLUOROOCTANESULFONIC ACID-CATALYZED FRIEDEL-CRAFTS ALKYLATION WITH ALKYL-HALIDES

A New procedure to prepare superacid perfluorooctane-sulfonic acid (POSA) is reported. POSA catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation of aromatic compounds with alkyl halides in liquid-phase reactions. Alkylation gave higher total yields than the corresponding reactions with Nafion-H, without the need of any complex decomposition or work-up. The reactions do not need to be carried out under absolutely anhydrous condition. The catalyst POSA can be easily separated from the reaction mixture and reused or recovered. The reactivity of the alkylation reagents and the mechanism of the reaction are discussed.