K. Johnson et al., ALKYLATION OF AROMATIC SUBSTRATES WITH METHANOL ON HETEROPOLYOXOMETALATE, Indian journal of chemistry. Sect. B: organic chemistry, including medical chemistry, 36(3), 1997, pp. 246-251
The alkylation of aromatic substrates with methanal has been studied o
n potassium substituted salts of 12-phosphotungstic acid. Substitution
at ring positions appears to be the predominant route. Among the pota
ssium substituted salts, the salt containing K-2.5 is the most active
probably because of higher strength of Bronsted acid sites on this sys
tem. Mechanistic details of this reaction are discussed.