Abstract: The Friedel-Crafts reaction of aromatic compounds with styrene and cyclohexene as the alkylation reagents, and with solid superacid perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (POSA) as the catalyst is reported. The reaction has high yields, simple procedure and is easy to work up. The reaction with styrene as the alkylation reagent gives 100% para-substituted products, and the reaction with cyclohexene as the alkylation reagent also has a high position selectivity. The catalyst POSAcan be reused or recovered, and no waste acidic solution drain off.

Key words: Solid superacid, Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, Alkene, Friedel-Crafts alkylation