Methods of acylation with an ionic liquid catalyzing medium

A method of acylating an aryl substrate, comprising:

• combining a substituted aryl substrate with an acylating agent in the presence of a catalyzing medium, thereby acylating the substituted aryl substrate in the para position;
• wherein the catalyzing medium is an ionic liquid comprising at least one cation and at least one metal halide anion, wherein the ionic liquid is a salt of the at least one cation and the at least one metal halide anion with a melting point of 150 ° C. or less, and wherein the at least one metal halide anion comprises [Al2Cl7]−;
• wherein the aryl substrate comprises a compound of formula I:
• wherein R5 is H, halogen, hydroxyl, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 cycloalkyl;
• wherein the acylating agent comprises an acyl halide of formula II or an acid anhydride of formula III:
• wherein
• X is a halogen;
• R6 is H, halogen, hydroxyl, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 cycloalkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aryl;
• and R7 and R8 are independently H, halogen, hydroxyl, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or wherein, as valence permits, R7 and R8, together with the atoms to which they are attached, form a 4-10membered cyclic moiety.