Aluminum chloride as a solid is not a strong Lewis acid

The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
J Krishna MurthyErhard Kemnitz

Abstract

Aluminum chloride is used extensively as Lewis acid catalyst in a variety of industrial processes, including Friedel-Crafts and Cl/F exchange reactions. There is a common misconception that pure AlCl3 is itself a Lewis acid. In the current study, we use experimental and computational methods to investigate the surface structure and catalytic properties of solid AlCl3. The catalytic activity of AlCl3 for two halide isomerization reactions is studied and compared with different AlF3 phases. It is shown that pure solid AlCl3 does not catalyze these reactions. The (001) surface of crystalline AlCl(3) is the natural cleavage plane and its structure is predicted via first principles calculations. The chlorine ions in the outermost layer of the material mask the Al3+ ions from the external gas phase. Hence, the experimentally found catalytic properties of pure solid AlCl3 are supported by the predicted surface structure of AlCl3.

References

Sep 23, 2003·Angewandte Chemie·Erhard KemnitzChandra S Shekar
Sep 30, 2003·Inorganic Chemistry·Thoralf KrahlJean-Yves Buzaré
Jul 21, 2006·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B·A WanderN M Harrison
Dec 7, 2005·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Adrian WanderNicholas M Harrison

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Citations

May 9, 2015·Dalton Transactions : an International Journal of Inorganic Chemistry·Erhard Kemnitz, Johannes Noack
Nov 12, 2015·Dalton Transactions : an International Journal of Inorganic Chemistry·Aleš ŠtefančičTomaž Skapin
Feb 20, 2008·Dalton Transactions : an International Journal of Inorganic Chemistry·Stephan Rüdiger, Erhard Kemnitz
May 14, 2008·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·C L BaileyN M Harrison
Apr 22, 2020·Chemistry : a European Journal·Thomas BraunFranziska Emmerling
Nov 3, 2020·Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry·Maëva-Charlotte KervarecErhard Kemnitz

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