The enhanced activity of Sb after supporting on K10 in the benzylation of benzene using benzyl chloride and benzyl alcohol

Abstract

K10 was modified under aqueous and non-aqueous conditions using SbCl 3 and the resultant catalysts were used for the Friedel–Crafts benzylation of benzene with benzyl chloride (BzCl) and benzyl alcohol (BzOH). Effect of activation temperature on the activity of the catalysts was also studied. The catalysts activated at 120°C in both the cases were found to be more active. The outstanding observation of this investigation was the significant catalytic activity associated with Sb(III), particularly in view of the fact that SbCl 3 is known to be the least active Lewis acid under homogeneous conditions.