Acylation reactions under microwaves. II. Acylation of aromatic ethers

Acylation of aromatic ethers has been carried out under microwave irradiati on, using rapid conditions (short reaction time and without temperature con trol) and in the presence of various catalysts, metallic chlorides, oxides (mainly iron derivatives), or triflates. For the benzoylation of anisole, t he rise in temperature as a function of time is reported and connected to t he efficiency of catalysts: the most active of them induce the largest temp erature gradients. It is shown that microwaves have a specific interaction with the arylketone produced and especially with its catalyst-complexed for m. However, a microwave nonthermal effect has not been observed, either for the yield or for the isomeric ratios of various products. (C) 1999 Academi e des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.