Question

How would you carry out the following conversion?
Benzyl chloride to benzyl alcohol

Answer 1

Hint: Conversion of aryl halide to aryl alcohol is an example for substitution chemical reaction. To substitute the halide from the aryl halide there is a need for a strong base. By using this reaction we can prepare alcohol from halides.

Complete answer:
- In the question it is asked to do the conversion of benzyl chloride to benzyl alcohol.
- First we should know the structure of the benzyl chloride.
- The structure of the benzyl chloride is as follows.

- Now we can see the preparation of the benzyl alcohol from the benzyl chloride with the help of aqueous potassium hydroxide and it is as follows.

- In the above chemical reaction we can see that one mole of benzoyl chloride is going to convert into one mole of benzyl alcohol with the help of the aqueous potassium hydroxide.
- At the same time there is a formation of the byproduct potassium chloride (KCl).
- The above mentioned chemical reaction is going to be carried out with the help of some energy which is going to be supplied in the form of a heat.
- Therefore the conversion of benzyl chloride to benzyl alcohol is an example for endothermic chemical reaction.

Note:
If the energy is going to be liberated in the form of a heat during the chemical reaction then the chemical reaction is called exothermic reaction and in the conversion of benzoyl chloride to benzyl alcohol the energy is going to be absorbed.