Question

What acid chloride would be needed to prepare the following ketone from benzene using a Friedel-Crafts acylation? Click the "draw structure" button to launch the drawing utility.

Answer 1

Benzoyl Chloride

Step-by-step explanation:

Friedel-Craft Acylation is reaction utilized to add electrophiles (particularly carbonyl group) across double bonds of aromatic compounds.

In given case benzophenone is synthesized using benzene and benzoyl chloride.

Mechanism:

Step 1: In first step benzoyl chloride is treated with lewis acid to generate an electrophile i.e. oxo(phenyl)methylium.

Step 2: In the second step benzene undergoes electrophilic substitution reaction and adds the electrophile.

Step 3: In last step the aromaticity of benzene is restored with the elimination of proton.