Organic conversion

Benzene to benzophenone

1 step: Friedel-Crafts acylation

Class 12, Chapter 8 Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Alternative routes (4)

Benzene → Benzaldehyde → Benzhydrol → Benzophenone
1. Benzene to benzaldehyde: CO + HCl, anhydrous AlCl₃ / CuCl.
2. Benzaldehyde to benzhydrol: (i) C₆H₅MgBr, dry ether (ii) H₂O.
3. Benzhydrol to benzophenone: CrO₃.
Benzene → Toluene → Benzaldehyde → Benzhydrol → Benzophenone
1. Benzene to toluene: CH₃Cl, anhydrous AlCl₃.
2. Toluene to benzaldehyde: (i) CrO₂Cl₂, CS₂ (ii) H₃O⁺.
3. Benzaldehyde to benzhydrol: (i) C₆H₅MgBr, dry ether (ii) H₂O.
4. Benzhydrol to benzophenone: CrO₃.
Benzene → Toluene → Benzoic acid → Benzoyl chloride → Benzophenone
1. Benzene to toluene: CH₃Cl, anhydrous AlCl₃.
2. Toluene to benzoic acid: KMnO₄, KOH, heat; then H₃O⁺.
3. Benzoic acid to benzoyl chloride: SOCl₂.
4. Benzoyl chloride to benzophenone: benzene, anhydrous AlCl₃.
Benzene → Ethylbenzene → Benzoic acid → Benzoyl chloride → Benzophenone
1. Benzene to ethylbenzene: CH₃CH₂Cl, anhydrous AlCl₃.
2. Ethylbenzene to benzoic acid: KMnO₄, KOH, heat; then H₃O⁺.
3. Benzoic acid to benzoyl chloride: SOCl₂.
4. Benzoyl chloride to benzophenone: benzene, anhydrous AlCl₃.

Why these reagents

Reagent and reason, step by step

Step 1: Benzene to benzophenone: C₆H₅COCl, anhydrous AlCl₃ Friedel-Crafts acylation with benzoyl chloride.

Questions

How many steps does it take to convert benzene to benzophenone?

1 step: Benzene, then benzophenone.

Which named reaction is used to convert benzene to benzophenone?

Friedel-Crafts acylation. Benzene reacts with an acyl chloride or anhydride in the presence of anhydrous AlCl3 to give an aromatic ketone.

What is the reagent for step 1 of benzene to benzophenone?

Benzene to benzophenone: C₆H₅COCl, anhydrous AlCl₃. Friedel-Crafts acylation with benzoyl chloride.