Question

When benzene is treated with methyl chloride and aluminum trichloride under conditions that favor trialkylation, one major product is obtained

Answer 1

CH3Cl reacts with AlCl3 to give (CH3)+ and (AlCl4)-. AlCl3 acts as a Lewis acid and CH3Cl acts as a Lewis base. The

The (CH3)+ generated will then act as an electrophile to substitute a H on benzene. The product is toluene together with HCl as a side product.

This is an electrophilic substitution type reaction.