Application of Statistical Design to Benzylation of Toluene with Benzyl Alcohol

Benzylation of toluene with benzyl alcohol in the presence of benzenesulphonic acid was studied statistically with a three‐factored experimental design. Factorial design was employed to study the effect of factors and the interactions of two or more factors on the yield of benzylation. Temperature, the molar ratio of toluene to benzyl alcohol, and amount of catalyst were considered as major variables. A mathematical equation was derived with the help of experimental design to calculate the predicted yields under certain experimental conditions. The adequacy of the suggested model was checked. In this study, the 3‐factor 2‐level Yates Pattern experimental design is used for the analysis of benzylation of toluene with benzyl alcohol in presence of benzenesulphonic acid. Results of this study indicate that the effects of temperature, molar ratio of toluene to benzyl alcohol, amount of benzenesulphonic acid were significant.