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Q7.20(ii):
How are the following conversions carried out? Benzyl chloride ((\rightarrow)) Benzyl alcohol.

Solution :

Chemical Transformation: Benzyl Chloride to Benzyl Alcohol

The conversion of Benzyl chloride ($C_6H_5CH_2Cl$) to Benzyl alcohol ($C_6H_5CH_2OH$) is a classic example of a nucleophilic substitution reaction. Specifically, it involves the substitution of a halide group by a hydroxyl group in a primary benzylic halide.

Step 1: Selecting the Reagent and Conditions

To convert an alkyl halide to an alcohol, an aqueous alkaline solution is required. The most efficient laboratory reagents are aqueous sodium hydroxide ($NaOH$) or aqueous potassium hydroxide ($KOH$).

  • Reagent: Aqueous $KOH$ or $NaOH$ ($aq$).
  • Reaction Type: $S_N2$ (Substitution Nucleophilic Bimolecular).

Step 2: Chemical Equation and Mechanism

The hydroxide ion ($OH^-$) acts as a strong nucleophile. It attacks the electrophilic carbon atom bonded to the chlorine atom. Since the benzyl carbon is primary and highly stabilized by resonance with the phenyl ring, the substitution proceeds readily.

Chemical Equation:

$C_6H_5CH_2Cl + KOH(aq) \xrightarrow{\Delta} C_6H_5CH_2OH + KCl$

Mechanism Details:

  1. The nucleophile ($OH^-$) attacks the $CH_2$ carbon from the side opposite to the leaving group ($Cl^-$) [Per the kinetics of $S_N2$ mechanism].
  2. The $C-Cl$ bond begins to break while the $C-OH$ bond begins to form.
  3. The chloride ion is displaced as a leaving group, resulting in the formation of Benzyl alcohol.

Visual Representation of the Molecule

$C_6H_5$ $CH_2$ $Cl$ $OH^-/H_2O$ $C_6H_5CH_2OH$

Analytical Justification

The use of an aqueous medium is critical [Per the rules of substitution vs. elimination]. If alcoholic $KOH$ were used, the reaction would favor dehydrohalogenation, leading to the formation of an alkene rather than an alcohol. Therefore, the presence of water ensures the $OH^-$ ion remains a nucleophile rather than acting as a Bronsted base.

Final Solution: Benzyl chloride reacts with aqueous potassium hydroxide (or sodium hydroxide) through a nucleophilic substitution mechanism to yield Benzyl alcohol and potassium chloride (or sodium chloride).


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