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6336478 
Journal Article 
Kinetic analysis of homogeneous acid catalysis in the chloromethylation of toluene 
Rey, MI; Ortiz, MI; Irabien, A 
1987 
Journal of Molecular Catalysis
ISSN: 0304-5102 
39 
1 
105-113 
The catalytic activity of acids in the chloromethylation of toluene has been studied in a complex mixture of toluene, paraformaldehyde, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid and zinc chloride. A relation between the Hammett acidity function and the initial reaction rate has been found: r0 = hmf(k,C) m = 1.25 where: h = 10-H0; H0 being the Hammett acidity function. This relation describes the influence of three acids, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid and zinc chloride, on the initial reaction rate in the investigated range of variables CT0 = 0.075 M, CF0 = 2.5 M; 30% ? CHAc ? 50%, 5% ? CZnCl2 ? 15% and 2 M ? CHCl ? 4 M. These results are useful in the evaluation of the reaction rate for the chloromethylation of toluene as a function of the proton activities. Finally, some mechanistic implications are discussed.