Question

Describe three ways to synthesize the following compound:

Short answer

There are three ways for the synthesis of the given molecule is shown below:

Step-by-step solution

Organic Synthesis

Organic synthesis is defined as the preparation of the desired compound from readily available starting materials.

Sometimes it involves one or two-step only, but usually, several steps may be needed to reach the desired goal.

Organic synthesis is actually the real test of a chemist’s ability to conduct and control chemical reactions.

Friedel-Crafts Acylation

Friedel-Crafts acylation is an organic chemical reaction that involves the addition of an acyl group to the aromatic ring. Typically this reaction is done by using acid chloride and Lewis acid catalyst such as ALCl3. In this reaction, the aromatic ring is transformed into ketone.

Synthesis of the given molecule

In the first synthesis of the given product we, use LDA i.e. Lithium diisopropyl amide as a strong base that reacts with 1-phenyl-ethanone which creates the nucleophilic enolate ion which further reacts with an aldehyde in the presence of hydronium ion to form the desired product as shown in the figure given below:

In the second synthesis we use Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction to yield our desired product as shown in the figure given below:

In the third synthesis of the given product firstly we react benzaldehyde with Grignard reagent and then undergo a reaction with PCC (Pyridinium chlorochromate) an oxidizing agent in the presence of CH2Cl2 to form the desired product as shown below: