2-Phenylethanol → HCID 178479008, compound

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Reaction Steps

2-phenylethanol is also prepared by the Grignard synthesis, starting from chlorobenzene, which is converted to phenyl-magnesium chloride, which then reacts with ethylene oxide to give phenylethoxy magnesium chloride. Phenylethoxy magnesium chloride thus obtained is decomposed with sulphuric acid to give 2-PEA. The main drawbacks of this process are (i) generation of potentially dangerous and air and moister sensitive phenyl-magnesium chloride (ii) requirement of sulphuric acid for the decomposition of Grignard complex and subsequent extraction of the desired product, (iii) produces large amounts of hazardous effluent and poor quality of the 2-phenylethanol which has low acceptability in perfumery industry [E. T. Theimer in Fragrance Chemistry, Academic Press, New York, (1982) p. 271].

Provenance & Evidence