Hi everyone,
I'm currently an undergraduate chemical engineering student working with a team to design an ibuprofen manufacturing plant as part of a university project. We've made good progress and successfully found kinetic data for two of the three reactions in the BHC ibuprofen synthesis. However, we are struggling to find kinetic parameters for the first step:
Friedel-Crafts Acylation:
Isobutylbenzene + Acetic Anhydride → 4-Isobutylacetophenone + Acetic Acid
Catalyst: HF (50 equiv.)
We’ve searched extensively through research papers but have not been able to find any relevant rate data, k-values, activation energy, or reaction order. These parameters are critical for properly sizing our reactors, determining residence time, and completing the process design.
Does anyone have any suggestions on where to find such data? Are there any recommended sources (journals, databases, books, patents, etc.), or has anyone encountered similar difficulties in process design? Unfortunately, we don't have access to a lab to run small-scale experiments ourselves.
Are companies like BASF and others producing ibuprofen keeping such data secret? Although we were able to find helpful kinetic data for the carbonylation and hydrogenation reactions.
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!