Ferric(III) Chloride Catalyzed Halogenation Reaction of Alcohols and Carboxylic Acids Using α,α-Dichlorodiphenylmethane

A new method for chlorination of alcohols and carboxylic acids, using α,α-dichlorodiphenylmethane as the chlorinating agent and FeCl3 as the catalyst, was developed. The method enables conversions of various alcohols and carboxylic acids to their corresponding alkyl and acyl chlorides in high yields under mild conditions. Particulary interesting is the observation that the respective alkyl bromides and iodides can be generated from alcohols when either LiBr or LiI are present in the reaction mixtures.