Chapter 22, Problem 22.14P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

It is to be shown how to synthesize benzophenone from benzene and any alcohol.

Concept introduction:

When aromatic species are treated with an acid chloride in the presence of a Lewis acid (e.g., ${\text{AlCl}}_{\text{3}}$), acylation takes place at the aromatic ring; it is called a Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction. Acid chlorides can be prepared from the corresponding primary alcohols in two steps; in the first step, alcohol is oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acid either by the treatment of potassium dichromate (${\text{K}}_{\text{2}}{\text{Cr}}_{\text{2}}{\text{O}}_{\text{7}}$) or by refluxing with alkaline potassium permanganate (${\text{KMnO}}_{\text{4}}$). In the second step, the carboxylic acid is converted to the corresponding acid chloride by the treatment of either ${\text{SOCl}}_{\text{2}}$ or ${\text{PCl}}_{\text{5}}$.