Isomerisation of 1,4-dichlorobenzene using highly acidic alkali chloroaluminate melts.

The isomerisation reaction of 1,4-dichlorobenzene leading to the thermodynamically favoured and technically desired 1,3-dichlorobenzene has been studied comparing highly acidic chloroaluminate melts with organic imidazolium and alkali metal ions. Interestingly, the inorganic melts show much higher reactivity and full recyclability if small AlCl3 losses are compensated and the reaction is carried out under slight HCl pressure.