Q16E

Question

How would you prepare 1-phenyl-2-butanone, C6H5CH2COCH2CH3, from benzyl bromide, C6H5CHBr? More than one step is required?

Step-by-Step Solution

Verified
Answer

The preparation of 1-phenyl-2-butanone, C6H5CH2COCH2CH3, from benzyl bromide, C6H5CH₂Br can be explained.

1Step 1: Formation of bonds

The metal Mg reacts with the benzyl bromide for the formation of benzyl magnesium bromide. There is a cleavage  of C-Br bond and formation of C-Mg and Mg-Br bonds.

2Step 2: 1-phenyl-2-butanone formation

The reaction of propanol with benzyl magnesium bromide   results in the acidification for the formation of 1-phenylbutan-2-ol. 

The double bond between C and O of propanol can be converted to the single bond of C-O and O-H  for the formation of O-H and C-C bonds. 

The oxidation of secondary alcohol to ketone.