Question

Using your reaction roadmap as a guide, show how to convert butane into butanal. Show all reagents needed and all molecules synthesized along the way.

Short answer

Answer: To convert butane to butanal, follow these steps and use the corresponding reagents: 1. Convert butane to butene via dehydrogenation using Al2O3 catalyst and high temperature. 2. Convert butene to 1-butanol through hydroboration-oxidation using BH3, followed by H2O2 and NaOH. 3. Oxidize 1-butanol to butanal using PCC (Pyridinium chlorochromate).

Step-by-step solution

Convert butane to butene

To initiate the conversion, we need to transform butane, an alkane, into butene, an alkene. This process is known as dehydrogenation. Required reagent: Catalyst: Al2O3 (Aluminum Oxide) and high temperature (between 400-700°C) Reaction: C4H10 (Butane) -> C4H8 (Butene) + H2

Convert butene to 1-butanol

The next step is to transform the obtained alkene, butene, into an alcohol, 1-butanol. This process is called hydroboration-oxidation. Required reagents: 1. BH3 (Borane) 2. H2O2 (Hydrogen peroxide) and NaOH (Sodium hydroxide) Reaction: C4H8 (Butene) + 1/ BH3 -> intermediate complex -> intermediate complex + H2O2 / NaOH -> C4H9OH (1-butanol)

Convert 1-butanol to butanal

The final step is to oxidize 1-butanol to obtain the desirable product, butanal, an aldehyde. Required Reagent: PCC (Pyridinium chlorochromate) Reaction: C4H9OH (1-butanol) + PCC -> C4H8O (Butanal) + other products Hence, we have successfully described the process of converting butane to butanal through a series of chemical reactions.