ABSTRACT
In this paper we report the use of supported heteropoly acid (silicotungstic acid) and supported phosphoric acid catalysts for the acylation of industrially relevant aromatic feedstocks with acid anhydrides in the synthesis of aromatic ketones. In particular, we describe the acylation of thioanisole 1 with iso-butyric anhydride 2 to form 4-methyl thiobutyrophenone 3. The acylation of thioanisole with acetic anhydride has been reported in which a series of zeolites were used as catalysts. Zeolite H-beta was reported to have the highest activity of the zeolites studied (41 mol % conversion, 150oC) (2).
