Acylation of anisole using acid clay catalyst

In this investigation para-methoxy acetophenone an important perfumery and flavouring chemical was synthesised by acylation of anisole with acetic anh ydride as acylating agent in nitrobenzene as a solvent at 138 degrees C by using 10% Lewis acids such as ferric chloride or zinc chloride impregnated on K-10 montmorillonite clay as a catalyst. This process could be a better alternative to the conventional Friedel-Crafts reaction using more than sti ochiometric quantity of anhydrous aluminium chloride. The catalyst could be reused with no significant effect on the conversion if it was again impreg nated with ferric chloride or zinc chloride.