REGIOSPECIFIC AROMATIC CHLORINATION OF ALKYL PHENYL ETHERS USING SODIUM-CHLORITE CATALYZED BY MANGANESE(III) ACETYLACETONATE AND MOIST ALUMINA IN DICHLOROMETHANE

A solid-liquid biphasic system (dichloromethane and chromatographic ne utral alumina) has been tested for the aromatic chlorination of variou s alkyl aryl ethers using a reagent combination of sodium chlorite and manganese(III) acetylacetonate catalyst. Efficient incorporation of a chlorine atom into the benzene ring with high para-selectivity result s. This catalytic system is also applicable to the regiocontrolled chl orination of polyether substrates.