Abstract: A method of making a benzoyl halide is disclosed. Into a reactor is placed a reaction mixture of a benzotrihalide and a benzaldehyde having the respective general formulas where each A is independently selected from halogen, CF3, R, or OR, each B is independently selected from halogen, CF3, or R, R is alkyl from C1 to C10 or aryl from C6 to C12, each X is independently selected from Cl and Br, m is 0 to 3, and n is 0 to 2. Also added is at least about 10 ppm of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of zinc salts and copper salts, and an optional solvent. The addition of an ammonium halide to the product mixture forms the corresponding amide, which can be dehydrated to form the corresponding nitrile.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of isolating the aromatic product formed when a substrate having the general formula is dehalogenated, forming a product mixture of copper salts and aromatic product, where X is the halogen removed from the substrate to form the aromatic product, R′ is COOH, COOR, COR, CN, COH(R)2, or SO3H, each R″ is independently selected from halogen, R, or OR or two vicinal R″ groups form one or more fused aromatic rings, R is alkyl from C1 to C18 or aryl from C6 to C18, and n is 1 to 4. Water in an amount about 1 to about 5 times the amount of the substrate is added to the product mixture, forming an organic phase that contains the aromatic product and an aqueous phase that contains the copper salts. If the density of the organic phase differs from the density of said aqueous phase by less than 0.1 g/cc, a suitable solvent is added to the product mixture in an amount sufficient to increase the differences between the organic and aqueous phases to at least 0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of removing about 0.05 to about 20 mole % of a benzaldehyde or benzotrihalide from a mixture with a liquid compound that boils within about −10 to about ±5° C. of the boiling point of the benzaldehyde or benzotrihalide. To the mixture is added a benzotrihalide in an amount about stoichiometric to about 10 mole % in excess of stoichiometric, or, respectively, a benzaldehyde in an amount about stoichiometric with the amount of said benzotrihalide, where said benzaldehyde and said benzotrichloride react to form a benzalhalide and a benzoylhalide. The product mixture is distilled to isolate the products.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of adding 1 to 4 chlorine or bromine atoms to an aromatic ring of compound that has at least one electron-withdrawing groups on that ring. The aromatic compound is reacted with a chlorinating agent or a brominating agent in the presence of about 0.1 to about 10 mole % of a Lewis acid catalyst and about 0.001 to about 0.1 equivalents of an iodine-containing cocatalyst at a temperature of ambient to about 100.degree. C.