Chiang Mai Journal of Science

Two AlCl₃ supported imidazolium salts (1, 2) were prepared and utilized as the catalysts for the acylation of anisole. The standard conditions for the reaction were optimized. The acylation of anisole using those AlCl₃ supported imidazolium provided the desired product in high percentage yield in a short period of time.  The results revealed that AlCl₃ supported imidazolium salts are suitable for this reaction when the molar ratio of AlCl₃: imidazolium is 2:1 and the reaction smoothly proceeded even at the low temperature such as 0 ^oC. Moreover, the AlCl₃-supported catalyst 1 demonstrated the promising reusability after being catalytically used for 3 times without losing properties.