Method for preparing aryl ketones

A method for preparing an aryl ketone comprising the following steps in the following sequence:

• (a) heating in a reaction vessel a reaction mixture comprising an aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of benzene and methyl- and dimethyl-substituted derivatives of benzene, aromatic acyl halide selected from the group consisting of benzoyl chloride and methyl- and dimethyl-substituted derivatives of benzoyl chloride and a catalytic amount of iron (III) chloride to a temperature and for a time sufficient to substantially convert the aromatic acyl halide to aryl ketone and hydrochloric acid gas, under a pressure greater than atmospheric and sufficient to maintain the aromatic hydrocarbon substantially in a liquid form, the pressure being from about 100 pounds per square inch to about 450 pounds per square inch;
• (b) venting the reaction vessel to permit the release of an amount of the hydrochloric acid gas sufficient to maintain the pressure in the reaction vessel between about 100 pounds per square inch to about 450 pounds per square inch;
• (c) distilling the reaction mixture to form a distillate comprising the aryl ketone product;
• (d) washing the distillate with a solution of sodium hydroxide;
• (e) washing the distillate with water;
• (f) redistilling the washed distillate to form substantially pure aryl ketone.

A method for preparing an aryl ketone comprising the following steps:

• (a) heating a first reaction mixture comprising an aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of benzene and methyl- and dimethyl-substituted derivatives of benzene and a catalytic amount of iron (III) chloride to a temperature and under a pressure greater than atmospheric and sufficient to maintain the aromatic hydrocarbon substantially in a liquid form, the pressure being from about 100 pounds per square inch to about 450 pounds per square inch;
• (b) mixing the first reaction mixture with a second reaction mixture comprising an aromatic acyl halide selected from the group consisting of benzoyl chloride and methyl- and dimethyl-substituted derivatives of benzoyl chloride to form a third reaction mixture;
• (c) incubating the third reaction mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to substantially convert the aromatic acyl halide to the aryl ketone and hydrochloric acid gas, under a pressure greater than atmospheric and sufficient to maintain substituted benzene substantially in a liquid form, the pressure being from about 100 pounds per square inch to about 450 pounds per square inch;
• (d) venting the reaction vessel to permit the release of an amount of the hydrochloric acid gas sufficient to maintain the pressure in the reaction vessel between about 100 pounds per square inch to about 450 pounds per square inch.

A method for preparing an aryl ketone comprising the following steps in the following sequence:

• (a) heating a first reaction mixture comprising an aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of benzene and methvl- and dimethyl-substituted derivitives of benzene and a catalytic amount of iron (III) chloride to a temperature and under a pressure greater than atmospheric and sufficient to maintain the aromatic hydrocarbon substantially in a liquid form, the pressure being from about 100 pounds per square inch to about 450 pounds per square inch;
• (b) mixing the first reaction mixture with a second reaction mixture comprising an aromatic acyl halide selected from the group consisting of benzoyl chloride and methyl- and dimethyl-substituted derivatives of benzoyl chloride to form a third reaction mixture;
• (c) incubating the third reaction mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to substantially convert the aromatic acyl halide to aryl ketone and hydrochloric acid gas, under a pressure greater than atmospheric and sufficient to maintain the aromatic hydrocarbon substantially in a liquid form, the pressure being from about 100 pounds per square inch to about 450 pounds per square inch;
• (d) venting the reaction vessel to permit the release of an amount of the hydrochloric acid gas sufficient to maintain the pressure in the reaction vessel between about 100 pounds per square inch to about 450 pounds per square inch;
• (e) distilling the third reaction mixture to form a distillate comprising the aryl ketone product;
• (f) washing the distillate with a solution of sodium hydroxide;
• (g) washing the distillate with water;
• (h) redistilling the washed distillate to form substantially pure aryl ketone.