Question

Show how the following compounds can be synthesized from benzene:

a)

b)

c)

Short answer

a)

Formation of the desired product

b)

Formation of the desired product

c)

Formation of the desired product

Step-by-step solution

Step-by-step-solutionStep 1: Benzene

Benzene undergoes an electrophilic substitution reaction based on the substituent attached to the benzene ring. It can be ortho-para directing or meta directing.

Formation of the products

a)

Benzene reacts with ethanoyl chloride in the presence of Lewis acid to give acetophenone. Acetophenone reacts with nitric acid in the presence of sulfuric acid to give 3-nitroacetophenone.

Formation of the desired product (a)

b)

Benzene reacts with propionyl chloride in the presence of Lewis acid to give propiophenone. Propiophenone reacts with fuming sulfuric acid to give the desired product.

Formation of the desired product (b)

c)

Benzene reacts with methyl chloride in the presence of Lewis acid to give toluene. Toluene on oxidation gives benzoic acid, followed by a reaction with methanol in an acidic medium that produces the corresponding ester. This reacts with nitric acid in the presence of sulfuric acid giving 3-nitrobenzoic acid.

Formation of the desired product (c)