Why is Friedel-Crafts acylation generally preferred over Friedel-Crafts alkylation for the synthesis — Aromatic Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

In FC alkylation, the alkyl group introduced is activating, leading to unwanted polyalkylation, and the carbocations often rearrange. In FC acylation, the acylium ion is resonance-stabilized (no rearrangement), and the introduced acyl group is strongly electron-withdrawing (deactivating), which inhibits further substitution and allows for the clean isolation of the monoacylated product.