Highly selective synthesis of diphenylmethane with acidic ionic liquids

Synthesis of diphenylmethane (DPM) from benzene and benzyl chloride with acidic ionic liquids, such as (C2H5)(3)NHCl-AlCl3, (C2H5)(3)NHCl-ZnCl2, (C2H5)(3)NHCl-FeCl3, and (C2H5)(3)NHCl-CuCl2, as catalysts was investigated. The results showed that (C2H5)(3)NHCl-AlCl3 is a highly efficient catalyst. Both the yield and the selectivity of DPM reached up to 100% in the presence of (C2H5)(3)NHCI-AlCl3 as catalyst, when the reaction was carried out at ambient conditions.