FRIEDEL-CRAFTS BENZYLATION USING ALUMINA- SUPPORTED COPPER(II) CHLORIDE CATALYST

Alumina-suppoted copper(II) chloride efficiently catalyzed Friedel-Cra fts benzylation of aromatic hydrocabons and phenols with benzyl chlori de under mild conditions. The recovered catalyst can be readily regene rated and reused without a decrease in catalytic activity. The reactio n of benzene with bis(chloromethyl) benzenes gave dibenzylbenzenes in high yields, and the formation of by-products such as polybenzylbenzen es was depressed in contrast to that in the reaction catalyzed by AlCl 3, AlCl3-CH3NO2 or FeCl3.