One pot, one step process for the halogenation of aromatics using solid acid catalysts

An improved one pot, one step process for the halogenation of substituted aromatic compound selected from hydroxy aromatic compound, aromatic aldehyde compound, halo substituted aromatics, amide substituted aromatic compound and amino aromatic compound, said process consists of:

• addition of halogenating agent selected from chlorine, bromine or iodine and solid acid catalyst to the mixture of substituted aromatic compound in solvent selected from ethylene dichloride, methanol, hexane, toluene, ethanol, higher alcohols, dimethylsulfoxide, dioxane, dimethylformamide, acetone, diethyl ether, butanol and benzylalcohol followed by stirring the reaction mixture at temperature in the range of 25 to 85° C. and at atmospheric pressure of 14 psig for the period in the range of 2 to 6 hrs to afford corresponding halogenated compound wherein said solid acid catalyst is selected from MoO3/TiO2, MoO3/SiO2, WO3/TiO2, WO3/SiO2, and Mo Si/Al (7.5);
• wherein no mixed halogenated products are produced;
• wherein said catalyst is recyclable.