Alkylation and acylation of arenes is a common Lewis-acid
catalyst for
Friedel-Crafts reactions, both acylations and alkylations. Detailed procedures are available for alkylation and acylation of arenes. A general problem with the Friedel-Crafts reaction is that the aluminium chloride catalyst sometimes is required in full
stoichiometric quantities, because it
complexes strongly with the products. This complication always generates a large amount of
corrosive waste. For these and similar reasons, the use of aluminium chloride has rarely been displaced by
zeolites. :
Other applications in organic and organometallic synthesis Aluminium chloride finds a wide variety of other applications in
organic chemistry. For example, it can catalyse the
ene reaction, such as the addition of
3-buten-2-one (methyl vinyl ketone) to
carvone: : It is used to induce a variety of hydrocarbon couplings and rearrangements. Aluminium chloride combined with aluminium in the presence of an arene can be used to synthesize bis(arene) metal complexes, e.g.
bis(benzene)chromium, from certain metal halides via the
Fischer–Hafner synthesis.
Dichlorophenylphosphine is prepared by reaction of
benzene and
phosphorus trichloride catalyzed by aluminium chloride.
Medical Topical aluminum chloride hexahydrate is used for the treatment of
hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). ==Reactions==