Question

Name the two reagents for acylation of benzene

Answer 1

Hint: Acylation is the substitution of an acyl group into an organic compound. In case of benzene, the acyl group is substituted into the benzene ring. This reaction is also known as Friedel -Crafts acylation of Benzene.

Complete step by Step solution:
Acylation involves the substitution of an acyl group into an organic compound. The acyl group is an alkyl group is an alkyl group that possesses a carbon-oxygen double bond. The general formula of an acyl group is \[RCO - \] where R is an alkyl group. \[C{H_3}CO - \] is the most commonly used acyl group. It is also known as ethanoyl group. In the acylation of benzene, \[C{H_3}CO - \] is getting substituted into the ring.
\[C{H_3}COCl\] is the most reactive substance that contains an acyl group. It is commonly known as acyl chloride or acid chloride.
Benzene ring is reacted with a mixture of ethanoyl chloride \[C{H_3}COCl\] and \[AlC{l_3}\] (aluminium chloride) that acts as a catalyst. The product formed is a ketone called phenylethanone.
The reaction is as follows:
\[{C_6}{H_6} + C{H_3}COCl \to {C_6}{H_5}COCl + HCl\]
This reaction is an example of an electrophilic substitution reaction. The electrophile is $C{H_3}C{O^ + }$ that is produced by the reaction of ethanoyl chloride and aluminium chloride.
The reaction is as follows:
$C{H_3}COCl + AlC{l_3} \to C{H_3}C{O^ + } + AlCl_4^ - $

Hence, the two reagents used in the acylation of benzene is ethanoyl chloride \[C{H_3}COCl\] and aluminium chloride \[AlC{l_3}\].

Note: A student can get confused between acylation and alkylation. Alkylation is the transfer of an alkyl group from one compound to another. A student can also get confused between electrophilic substitution involving the displacement of a functional group by an electrophilic, i.e., hydrogen whereas nucleophilic substitution involves the attack of a positively charged atom by a nucleophile.