Toluene (methylbenzene) can be prepared using the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction. When benzene ($\text{C}_6\text{H}_6$) is treated with an alkyl halide, such as chloromethane ($\text{CH}_3\text{Cl}$), in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst like anhydrous aluminium chloride ($\text{AlCl}_3$), alkylation of the benzene ring takes place to form toluene . On the other hand, the reaction of benzene with acetyl chloride ($\text{CH}_3\text{COCl}$) is a Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction that yields acetophenone .