Friedel-Crafts Alkylation This Lewis acid-catalyzed electrophilic aromatic substitution allows the synthesis of alkylated products via the reaction of arenes with alkyl halides or alkenes. Since alkyl substituents activate the arene substrate, polyalkylation may occur. A valuable, two-step alternative is Friedel-Crafts Acylation followed by a carbonyl reduction. A Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction is an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction in which a carbocation is attacked by a pi bond from an aromatic ring with the net result that one of the aromatic protons is replaced by an alkyl group. Friedel-Crafts Alkylation refers to the replacement of an aromatic proton with an alkyl group. This is done through an electrophilic attack on the aromatic ring with the help of a carbocation. Learn about the definition, mechanism, examples, and applications of Friedel-Crafts alkylation, a chemical reaction that adds an alkyl halide to an aromatic ring. Find out the limitations, drawbacks, and differences with Friedel-Crafts acylation.
