Patent ID: 7087791

Claim:
An ecofriendly process for acylation of an alkylated benzene derivative, wherein the process has increased selectivity towards para position, and wherein the process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting the alkylated benzene derivative with an acylating agent in the presence of a solvent comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of nitrobenzene, dichlorobenzene, dimethylsulfolane, and benzonitrile, and a crystalline alumino silicate catalyst having general formula: M 2/n O.Al 2 O 3 .x SiO 2 .wH 2 O wherein M is at least one of an alkali cation, a rare earth cation, and a proton, wherein a Si/Al ratio is in the range of 5.5 to 20, wherein a weight percentage of the at least one of the alkali and lanthanide cation is in the range of 10 to 30; wherein the step of reacting is performed at temperature in the range of 80° to 140° C. for a 5 to 25 hours; (b) separating the solid catalyst from the reaction mixture of step (a), and (c) separating the acylated alkyl benzene derivative from the mixture of step (b).