Bromobenzene → 2-chloro-1,1-diphenylethanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

Bromobenzene (0.2 mol, 31.4 g) in sodium dry diethyl ether (200 ml) was added dropwise to magnesium (0.22 gram atoms, 5.3 g). After all the magnesium had reacted, phenacyl chloride (0.1 mol, 15.5 g) in diethyl ether (100 ml) was added dropwise and the solution stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was poured into saturated ammonium chloride solution, washed with water (3×150 ml), and dried (Na2SO4). Removal of the ether gave a pale yellow oil which solidified on standing. Recrystallisation from petroleum ether (60°-80°) gave 1,1-diphenyl-2-chloroethan-1-ol (60%) as a white crystalline solid, m.p. 56°-57°.

Provenance & Evidence