3-Methylbenzoyl chloride → 4-Chloro-3'-methylbenzophenone

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A stirred solution of m-toluoyl chloride (10.0 g, 64.7 mmol) in chlorobenzene (13.2 ml) at 80° C. was treated with aluminum chloride (8.63 g, 64.7 mmol) in portions over 30 minutes. The mixture was stirred 15 hours at 80° C., cooled to ambient temperature, stirred 16 hours, and quenched by addition of ice and concentrated hydrochloric acid (5.0 ml). The mixture was extracted three times with dichloromethane, and the combined extracts were washed with water, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and evaporated under vacuum. The residue was dissolved in boiling n-hexane, treated with activated charcoal, filtered, and cooled. The product was filtered and dried to provide 9.15 g of 3-(4-chlorobenzoyl) toluene. The filtrate was concentrated under vacuum and filtered to provide an additional 0.28 g of product. Total yield was 9.42 g (63%), m.p. 103°-105° C.

Provenance & Evidence