Question

Identify A, B, and C, three intermediates in the synthesis of the pain reliever and anesthetic fentanyl.

Short answer

It is used for the treatment of patients having severe pain and it relieves the pain after the surgery.

Step-by-step solution

Fentanyl

It is used for the treatment of patients having severe pain and it relieves the pain after the surgery.

Formation of products

The reaction of (2-bromoethyl)benzene with piperidin-4-one forms A as shown below:

Formation of A

The reaction of A with pyridine in the presence of mild acid forms B as shown below:

Formation of B

The reaction of B with forms C as shown below:

Formation of C

The reaction of C with propionyl chloride in the presence of pyridine forms fentanyl as shown below:

Formation of fentanyl