Quelet reaction

The Quelet reaction (also called the Blanc–Quelet reaction) is an organic coupling reaction in which a phenolic ether reacts with an aliphatic aldehyde to generate an α-chloroalkyl derivative. The reaction is named after its creator R. Quelet, who first reported the reaction in 1932, and is similar to the Blanc chloromethylation process.

The reaction proceeds under strong acid catalysis using HCl; zinc(II) chloride may be used as a catalyst in instances where the ether is deactivated. The reaction primarily yields para-substituted products; however it can also product ortho-substituted compounds if the para site is blocked.