Friedel–Crafts Acylation: Installing Acyl Groups on Aromatic Rings
Learn Friedel–Crafts acylation step-by-step: acylium ion formation, sigma complex, and deprotonation. Understand why it avoids rearrangements and polyacylation and how it differs from alkylation.
Electrophile: Acylium ion (R–C≡O+ resonance-stabilized)
Reagents: RCOCl (or anhydride) + AlCl3
Key advantages: No rearrangements; usually monoacylation