Processes are described for the preparation of thioxanthones (Formula I). A reactant mixture of a 2-chlorothiobenzoyl chloride (Formula II) and an aromatic compound (Formula III) is added to a slurry of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst in an organic Friedel-Crafts solvent. Products of the processes may be used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical product for use in the field of psycho-therapeutics, or as activators or sensitizers in the photo-polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers.
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