Final answer:
To convert 1-phenylethanol to methyl 1-phenylethyl sulfide, use thionyl chloride and methyl mercaptan to perform a nucleophilic substitution, replacing the alcohol group with a sulfide group.
Step-by-step explanation:
To convert 1-phenylethanol to methyl 1-phenylethyl sulfide, you would treat 1-phenylethanol with thionyl chloride and methyl mercaptan. This involves the nucleophilic substitution of the hydroxyl group with a sulfide group from methyl mercaptan. The other options provided are not suitable for this transformation as they involve different reactions:
- Oxidation with potassium permanganate would potentially oxidize the alcohol to a ketone or carboxylic acid, not form a sulfide.
- Reacting with methyl magnesium bromide would add a Grignard reagent to the molecule, which is not the desired transformation.
- Performing a Fischer esterification with sulfuric acid and methanol would form an ester, not a sulfide.
Therefore, the correct answer is C: Treat with thionyl chloride and methyl mercaptan. This reaction will replace the hydroxy group of the alcohol with a sulfide group from the methyl mercaptan, resulting in the formation of methyl 1-phenylethyl sulfide.