What is the main product when benzaldehyde is treated with Grignard reagent foll
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the main product when benzaldehyde is treated with Grignard reagent followed by hydrolysis?
Benzyl alcohol
Benzyl ketone
Benzyl aldehyde
Benzyl ether
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the main product when benzaldehyde is treated with Grignard reagent followed by hydrolysis?
Correct Answer: Benzyl alcohol
Step 1: Start with benzaldehyde, which is a compound with a benzene ring and a formyl group (–CHO).
Step 2: Prepare a Grignard reagent, which is typically made from an alkyl or aryl halide and magnesium in dry ether. For example, phenylmagnesium bromide (C6H5MgBr) can be used.
Step 3: Add the Grignard reagent to the benzaldehyde. The Grignard reagent acts as a nucleophile and attacks the carbon atom of the carbonyl group (C=O) in benzaldehyde.
Step 4: This reaction forms a new compound called a magnesium alkoxide intermediate.
Step 5: Next, perform hydrolysis by adding water (H2O) to the reaction mixture. This step converts the magnesium alkoxide into an alcohol.
Step 6: The final product of this reaction is benzyl alcohol, which has a benzene ring attached to a –CH2OH group.
