Aromatic Reaction Pathways

How to make nitrobenzene

Concentrated HNO3 and H2SO4 and heat

How to make Phenylamine

Nitrobenzene and Sn and HCl

What are electron donating groups

OH and NH2 and they go to positions 2,4,6

What are electron withdrawing groups

NO2 and they direct to 3,5

How to make chlorobenzene

Cl2 and AlCl3 catalyst

How to make phenylethanone (benzene with acyl chloride)

Add acyl chloride and AlCl3 catalyst

How to make methylbenzene

Add CH3Cl and AlCl3 catalyst

How to make bromophenol

Just add Br2 to phenol

How to make nitrophenol

Just add dilute HNO3 to phenol

How to make sodium phenoxide

Just add NaOH to phenol because phenol is a dilute acid so will react with a strong base (it won’t react with NaCO3)

How to make phenyl ethanoate(ester)

Add acyl chloride to phenol

Why is phenol more reactive than benzene

1. OH activates the ring because it’s electron donating

2. It extends the pi system

3. One of the electrons from the lone pair of oxygen partially dissociates into pi orbital

4. Increases electron density

5. So electrophilic attack is more likely

3 Ways to test for phenol

1. Test pH as slightly acidic then react with NaCO3 (no efforvecence because it’s too weak of an acid)

2. Add Br2 and it should recolours and white ppt forms

3. React with FeCl3 and it turns violet