Definition of Friedel Crafts Alkylation



Friedel Crafts Reactions are organic coupling reactions that have electrophilic aromatic substitutions involved in them. The aromatic substitutions are used to attach the substituents to the aromatic rings. There are two types of Friedel Crafts reactions namely Friedel Crafts Alkylation and Friedel Crafts Acylation. Friedel Crafts Alkylation is such a reaction in which the proton of the aromatic ring is being replaced with an alkyl group.

 


This replacement is brought when the electrophile attacks the aromatic ring with the aid of a carbocation. The reactants in this reaction are alkyl halides and they consequently generate alkylbenzenes. A catalyst such as FeCl3 or AlCl3 is often employed in this reaction.


View More Organic Chemistry Definitions