Question

Show how you would synthesize the following compounds, using the indicated starting materials.

(a) 3-phenylbutan-1-ol from styrene

Short answer

A chemical reaction in which one or more halogens (F, Cl, Br or I) are added to the compound getting halogenated is known as halogenation.

Step-by-step solution

Halogenation

A chemical reaction in which one or more halogens (F, Cl, Br or I) are added to the compound getting halogenated is known as halogenation.

Preparation of 3-phenylbutan-1-ol from styrene.

To synthesize 3-phenylbutan-1-ol from styrene, a halogenation process is done which is followed by substitution.

Preparation of 1-methoxy-4-(1-methoxyethyl)benzene from anisole.

For getting 1-methoxy-4-(1-methoxyethyl)benzene from anisole, halogenations are followed by the required substitution reaction as shown below.

Preparation of 2-(4-nitrophenyl)acetonitrile from toluene.

By treating toluene with nitric acid and then by halogenations followed by substitution of NaCN, 2-(4-nitrophenyl)acetonitrile is formed.