Cesium-substituted dodecatungstophosphoric acid on K-10 clay for benzoylation of anisole with benzoyl chloride

Synthesis of cesium-substituted dodecatungstophosphoric acid (Cs2.5H0.5PW12O40) supported on K-10 clay is reported. The catalyst is fully characterized. It serves as a promising catalyst for the acylation of aromatic compounds. The acylation of anisole with benzoyl chloride was studied systematically by using 20% w/w Cs2.5H0.5PW12O40/K-10 and this catalyst can be reused without any further chemical treatment, eliminating the effluent disposal problem. This acylation reaction is 100% selective toward 4-methoxybenzophenone, which is the desired perfumery intermediate. The effect of various important kinetic parameters was evaluated systematically to establish that the reaction obeys the Eley–Rideal type of mechanism with a very weak adsorption of the reactants. The reaction is free from any external mass transfer as well as intraparticle diffusion limitations and is intrinsically kinetically controlled.