Friedel-Crafts reaction: Meaning and Definition of

Frie•del'-Crafts' reac"tion

Pronunciation: (frē-del'krafts', -kräfts'), [key]
  1. a reaction for the synthesis of hydrocarbons and ketones by the alkylation or acylation of an aromatic compound in the presence of a catalyst, typically anhydrous aluminum chloride.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.