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Organic conversion

Ethanoic acid to ethanol

1 step: reduction

Class 12, Chapter 8 Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

  1. OOH
    Ethanoic acidCH₃COOHCarboxylic acid
  2. Step 1

    (i) LiAlH₄ (ii) H₃O⁺

    i

    Carboxylic acids are reduced to primary alcohols only by strong agents (LiAlH₄ or B₂H₆), not NaBH₄.

    OH
    EthanolCH₃CH₂OHAlcohol

Exam answer

  1. Step 1: Ethanoic acid to ethanol: (i) LiAlH₄ (ii) H₃O⁺.
Alternative routes (4)
  • Ethanoic acid → Ethanoyl chloride → Ethanal → Ethanol
    1. Ethanoic acid to ethanoyl chloride: SOCl₂.
    2. Ethanoyl chloride to ethanal: H₂, Pd/BaSO₄.
    3. Ethanal to ethanol: NaBH₄.
  • Ethanoic acid → Ethanamide → Ethanamine → Ethanol
    1. Ethanoic acid to ethanamide: NH₃, then heat.
    2. Ethanamide to ethanamine: (i) LiAlH₄ (ii) H₂O.
    3. Ethanamine to ethanol: NaNO₂ + HCl, 273 to 278 K.
  • Ethanoic acid → Sodium ethanoate → Ethane → Chloroethane → Ethanol
    1. Ethanoic acid to sodium ethanoate: NaOH.
    2. Sodium ethanoate to ethane: electrolysis of the aqueous solution.
    3. Ethane to chloroethane: Cl₂, UV light.
    4. Chloroethane to ethanol: aq. NaOH (or aq. KOH).
  • Ethanoic acid → Ethanoyl chloride → Ethanamide → Ethanamine → Ethanol
    1. Ethanoic acid to ethanoyl chloride: SOCl₂.
    2. Ethanoyl chloride to ethanamide: NH₃.
    3. Ethanamide to ethanamine: (i) LiAlH₄ (ii) H₂O.
    4. Ethanamine to ethanol: NaNO₂ + HCl, 273 to 278 K.
Why these reagents

Reagent and reason, step by step

  • Step 1: Ethanoic acid to ethanol: (i) LiAlH₄ (ii) H₃O⁺ Carboxylic acids are reduced to primary alcohols only by strong agents (LiAlH₄ or B₂H₆), not NaBH₄.
Good to know

Points to note

  • Step 1Carboxylic acids are reduced to primary alcohols only by strong agents (LiAlH₄ or B₂H₆), not NaBH₄.
Questions

Ethanoic acid to ethanol: quick answers

How many steps does it take to convert ethanoic acid to ethanol?

1 step: Ethanoic acid, then ethanol.

Which named reaction is used to convert ethanoic acid to ethanol?

None of the steps has a name. They are reduction, so write the reagent and the condition for each step.

What is the reagent for step 1 of ethanoic acid to ethanol?

Ethanoic acid to ethanol: (i) LiAlH₄ (ii) H₃O⁺. Carboxylic acids are reduced to primary alcohols only by strong agents (LiAlH₄ or B₂H₆), not NaBH₄.

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