Abstract: The acylation of alkylbenzenes 1 with benzoyl chloride 2 and catalytic amounts of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid affords the corresponding 2-, 3-, and 4-alkylbenzophenones 3 with unusually high amounts of ortho products. Surprisingly, even tert-butylbenzene reacts under these reaction conditions without any acid catalyzed dealkylation. The yield of benzoylation of p-xylene 4 with benzoic acid in the presence of 5 mol% C4F9SO3H to ...
