How anisole react with acetyl chloride (CH₃COCl) in the presence of anhydrous FeCl₃ or AlCl₃?

Write the chemical equation for the reaction.

Anisole, which is methoxybenzene (C₆H₅OCH₃), reacts with acetyl chloride (CH₃COCl) in the presence of anhydrous iron(III) chloride (FeCl₃) or aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) to form an acetophenone derivative. This reaction is an example of an electrophilic aromatic substitution, where the acetyl group replaces a hydrogen atom on the aromatic ring.

The Reaction Process

In this reaction, the Lewis acid (FeCl₃ or AlCl₃) activates the acetyl chloride, making it a more potent electrophile. The methoxy group in anisole, being an electron-donating group, enhances the reactivity of the aromatic ring.

Chemical Equation

The overall reaction can be represented as follows:

• Anisole: C₆H₅OCH₃
• Acetyl chloride: CH₃COCl
• Product: Acetophenone (C₆H₅COCH₃) + HCl

The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is:

C₆H₅OCH₃ + CH₃COCl → C₆H₅COCH₃ + HCl

This reaction highlights the ability of anisole to undergo substitution reactions due to the influence of the methoxy group, leading to the formation of acetophenone.