Reactions of Benzene and Methylbenzene

Nitration
1. Benzene + Nitric Acid
  1. nitrobenzene + water
  2. conc nitric , conc sulphuric (catalyst)
  3. reflux 55c
2. methylbenzene + nitric acid
  1. 2-nitromethylbenzene + water
  2. conditions same as yellow
  3. CH3 electron releasing directs to position 2 and 4
Reactions of Chlorine and Bromine
1. benzene + chorine
  1. chlorobenzene + hydrochloric acid
  2. reflux
  3. Cl2 and Br2 must not be aq
  4. Anhydrous AlCl3, halogen carrier, lewis acid, catalyst
  5. same reaction with Br2 but use anhydrous FeBr3
  6. other halogen carriers : Fe, FeCl3, FeBr3
2. methylbenzene + chlorine
  1. 2-chloromethylbenzene + 4- chlormethylbenzene + HCl
    1. Anhydrous AlCl3 (halogen carrier)
    2. Cl2 must not be aq
    3. Same reaction with Br2 but use FeBr3
  2. methylchlorobenzene + HCl
    1. UV light or heat
    2. free radical substitution
    3. Same reaction with Br2
3. electrophilic substitution
Oxidation of Methylbenzene
1. methylbenzene oxidises to benzoic acid
2. heat under reflux
3. reagents: KMnO4/ H+
Preparation of Methylbenzene
1. Friedel Crafts Alkaltion
2. methylbenzene + HCl
3. anhydrous AlCl3
4. room temp, dry ether
Benzene + Hydrogen
1. forms cyclohexane
2. nickel catalyst
3. very high pressure and temperature
4. addition reaction

Resource summary

	Created by Megan Thomas over 6 years ago