Additive-Free Commercial Alumina Catalyzes the Halogen Exchange Reaction of Long Alkyl Halides in Batch and in Flow Processes

Abstract

[EN] The synthesis of alkyl halides can be performed by simply halide exchange reactions between two different alkyl halides, catalyzed by aluminosilicates. Here, we show that commercially available alumina shows a superior catalytic activity for the halogen exchange reaction between long alkyl halides (more than 6 carbons), including fluorides, in either batch or flow modes. The catalytic activity of the solid alumina is modulated by alkaline countercations on the surface, and sodium-supported alumina shows the optimal performance for the iodo-bromo and iodo-fluoro exchange under inflow reaction conditions, after >24 h reaction time, without any external additive.