Module 6.1 Flashcards
What did Kekule’ say about Benzene?
- Ring of carbon atoms with alternating single and double bonds between them
- Each carbon is bonded to 2 other carbon atoms and a hydrogen giving a formula of C6H6.
- Benzene has a planar shape/cyclic shape
What model came and replaced Kekule’ model?
The delocalised model of benzene.
What does the delocalised model of benzene say?
- Each of the 6 carbon bonds donate one electron from it’s p-orbital. These electrons combine to form a ring of delocalised electrons ABOVE and BELOW the plane of the molecules. This overlapping of p-orbitals forms a pi-system.
- All the bonds are the same length
- Electrons are said to be delocalised because they do not belong to a specific carbon atom.
Give 3 reasons why Kekule’ model was disapproved
- Bond lengths
- Resistance to reaction
- Enthalpy change of hydrogenation
Using the concept of bond lengths, explain why Kekule’ model was disapproved
One reason why Kekule’ model was disapproved is due to the bond lengths. Under Kekule’ structure of benzene, there are 3 C=C bonds (length of 135pm each) and 3 single bonds (length of 147pm each).
However, X-ray diffraction techniques have show that ALL 6 carbon bonds in benzene are the same length at 140pm (between 135 and 147pm)., disapproving Kekule’ model.
Using the concept of resistance to reaction, explain why Kekule’ model was disapproved
Under Kekule’ model of benzene, you would expect Benzene to go through similar reactions to alkenes (because of the double bond). For example, alkenes such as propene undergo electrophilic addition. However, benzene tends to undergo electrophilic substitution reactions such as halogenation and nitration rather than electrophilic addition.
Using the concept of enthalpy change of hydrogenation, explain why Kekule’ model was disapproved
-Cyclohexene has one double bond and its enthalpy change of hydrogenation is -120kJ/mol. Therefore, as Kekule’ benzene model has 3 double bonds, we can assume that it has an enthalpy change of hydrogenation of -360kJ/mol.
However, experiments have proved that Benzene’s enthalpy change of hydrogenation is actually -208kJ/mol, meaning that benzene is LESS EXOTHERMIC than Kekule’ had originally expected and so it is more ENERGETICALLY STABLE.
What is meant by electrophilic substitution?
The substitution of an atom/group with another atom/group using an electrophile.
What is meant by an electrophile?
An electron pair acceptor.
Give all the details for the nitration of benzene.
Reaction Name: Nitration of Benzene
Reagents: Conc nitric acid and conc sulfuric acid (the CATALYST)
Conditions : Reflux at 50 degrees celsius
Electrophile used : NO2^+
Generation of electrophile: HNO3 + H2SO4 ⇄ NO2^+ + HSO4^- + H20.
Regeneration of catalyst : H^+ + HSO4^- → H2S04.
Equation: C6H6 + HNO3 + (H2SO4) → C6H5NO2 + H2O
Product name: Nitrobenzene
Give all the details for the bromination of benzene
Reaction Name : Bromination
Reagents : Bromine and a halogen carrier e.g. AlBr3
Conditions : Halogen carrier (catalyst) present.
Electrophile: Br^+
Generation of electrophile : Br2 + AlBr3 ⇄ AlBr4^- + Br^+
Regeneration of catalyst: H^+ +AlBr4^- → HBr + AlBr3
Product name : Bromobenzene
Give the generic details for the halogenation of benzene
Reaction Name : Halogenation
Reagents : Halogen and a halogen carrier e.g. AlX3
Conditions : Halogen carrier (catalyst) present and Reflux
Electrophile: X^+
Generation of electrophile : X2 + AlX3 ⇄ AlX4^- + X^+
Regeneration of catalyst: H^+ +AlX4^- → HX + AlX3
Product name : _______benzene
Where X is a halogen
What should you always include when answering questions about electrophilic substitution?
What reacts? Reagents? Equation? Electrophile and its generation? Catalyst and its regeneration? Conditions? Mechanism shown? Charges? Curly arrows? Final H^+ 5/6's covered on intermediate?
Why do we need a halogen carrier in order for a halogen to react with benzene?
Benzene’s low electron density means that it cannot induce a dipole in the electrophile. Also, benzene’s fully delocalised ring is STABLE meaning that it will resist attack. Therefore, a halogen carrier is needed to POLARISE the electrophile, making it strong enough to react with benzene.
Give examples of halogen carriers
Iron halides - FeX3
Aluminium halides - Alx3
iron (Fe)
Where X is a halogen
When halogen carriers are regenerated what is added to them, and what is produced?
Added = H^+ Produced = Halogen carrier + Hydrogen halide.
When electrophilic substitution occurs, what is actually happening between bonds?
- The electrophile attacks benzene causing a pair of electrons to leave the delocalised system to form a bond with the electrophile.
- This disrupts the delocalised system and forms an intermediate.
- To restore the delocalised ring, the pair of electrons in the C=H bond moves back into the ring.
Overall, there is substitution of hydrogen and the electrophile. This reaction is known as electrophilic substitution.
What is a Friedel-Crafts reaction?
A reaction that forms C-C bonds.
How do you carry out Friedel-Crafts reactions?
Reflux benzene with a halogen carrier and then reacting it with either a haloalkane (alkylation) or an acyl chloride (acylation). with ANHYDROUS conditions
What is meant by Friedel-Crafts alkylation?
A reaction where any alkyl group is put onto a benzene ring using a haloalkane and a halogen carrier under anhydrous conditions. The resultant product is an alkylbenzene.
Give the general equation for Friedel- Crafts alkylation
C6H6 + R-X → C6H5R + HX
(Benzene) + (Haloalkane) → Alkylbenzene + Hydrogen halide
Conditions: Reflux and a halogen carrier.
Give all the details of a Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction
Reagents : A haloalkane and an anhydrous halogen carrier (catalyst)
Conditions: Reflux in the presence of an anhydrous halogen carrier. (CATALYST)
Products: Alkylbenzene + Hydrogen halide.
Generation of electrophile :RX + FeX3 → R^+ + FeX4^-
Regeneration of catalyst : H^+ + FeX4^- → FeX3 + HX
Give the general equation for the generation of the electrophile in a alkylation reaction
RX + FeX3 → R^+ + FeX4^-
Give the general equation for the regeneration of the catalyst for alkylation
H^+ + FeX4^- → FeX3 + HX
What is meant by Friedel-Crafts acylation?
A reaction where any acyl group is put onto a benzene ring using an acyl chloride and an halogen carrier under anhydrous conditions. The resultant product is an phenylketone + HCl.
Give the general equation for Friedel- Crafts acylation
C6H6 + RCOCl → C6H5COR + HCl
Benzene) + (Acyl Chloride) → (Phenylketone) + (HCl
Give all the details of a Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction
Reagents : An acyl chloride and an anhydrous halogen carrier
Conditions: Reflux in the presence of an anhydrous halogen carrier. (CATALYST)
Products: Phenylketone + Hydrochloric acid
Electrophile: NO2+
Generation of electrophile: RCOCl + FeCl3 → FeCl4^- + R^+CO
Regeneration of catalyst : H+ + FeCl4^- → FeCl3 + HCl
Give the general equation for the generation of the electrophile in a acylation reaction
RCOCl + FeCl3 → FeCl4^- + R^+CO
Give the general equation for the regeneration of the catalyst for acylation
H+ + FeCl4^- → FeCl3 + HCl
What is the friedel-crafts alkylation product naming system?
alkyl-benzene
e. g. methylbenzene
e. g. pentylbenzene
What is the friedel-crafts acylation product naming system?
Start: Phenyl
Middle : Methan, ethan, propan etc.
End: one
E.g. phenylethanone
E.g. phenylpentanone
Because friedel- crafts alkylation reactions result in a mixture of products, what can we do to overcome this problem?
Separate the products formed using fractional distillation or chromatography.
Explain the relative resistance to bromination of benzene compared to phenol and compared to cyclohexene
- Benzene’s electrons are delocalised
- Benzene is not strong enough to induce a dipole in Bromine so it needs a halogen carrier such as AlBr3 to aid in the reaction.
- Benzene has a lower electron density than phenol.
- Phenol has an additional lone pair incorporated from oxygen now it the benzene delocalised ring, making it more vulnerable to electrophilic attack
- Cyclohexene’s electons are localised between 2 carbons. As electrophiles are strongly attracted to areas of high electron density, bromine will readily react with cyclohexene.
- Final comment on most reactive to least reactive.
What are phenols?
Aromatic compounds with a hydroxy group (-OH) directly attached to the aromatic ring.
They are WHITE CRYSTALLINE SOLIDS, smelling of disinfectant.
They are weak acids (pH from 4-6)
What is the formula for phenol?
C6H5OH
Does phenol react with sodium hydroxide? Expand
(Products, conditions, type of reaction?
Phenol reacts with sodium hydroxide solution at room temperature in a neutralisation reaction to from sodium phenoxide and water.
Why does phenol not react with carbonates?
Phenol is not a strong enough acid.
In the reaction between bromine water and phenol, what is produced?
2,4,6-tribromophenol.
Give 3 properties of 2,4,6-tribromophenol
White ppt
Insoluble in water
Smells of antiseptic.
When you add orange bromine water to phenol, what happens to the colour of the bromine water?
It decolourises
Describe the electrophilic substitution reaction of phenol with dilute nitric acid to form 2-nitrophenol
Reagents = Phenol + Dilute nitric acid Conditions = Room temp Products = 2-nitrophenol + water OR 4-nitrophenol + water
If your ever asked to give isomer of nitrophenol in the nitration of phenol, when you already have 2-nitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol, you give…
3-nitrophenol
Explain the relative ease of electrophilic substitution of phenol compared with benzene in terms of an electron pair donation from an oxygen p-orbiral in phenol
Phenol is more reactive than benzene. This is because, one of the lone pairs on the oxygen (from -OH) overlaps with the delocalised ring of electrons in the benzene, activating the ring. This means that the lone pair of electrons from the oxygen atom becomes PARTIALLY DELOCALISED into the pi-system. This increase the electron density of the ring, making it more likely to be attacked by electrophiles. Therefore, more reactive.
For example, talk about different conditions for nitration and bromination for both benzene and phenol and compare the two.
What are electron donating groups?
Electron donating groups are groups that overlap with the delocalised ring of electrons and increase electron density at carbon number 2,4 and 6.
Give examples of electron donating groups
- OH
- NH2
What are electron withdrawing groups?
Electron withdrawing groups are groups that don’t have any orbitals and can overlap with the delocalised ring an so it withdraws electron density at carbons 2,4,6
Because electron withdrawing groups, withdraw electron density at carbons 2,4 and 6, it means that…
electrons are unlikely to react at these positions and therefore when electrophilic substitution takes place, groups are directed towards the 3 or 5- position.
NOTE: 3 and 5 are the same depending on which way you count your carbons.
What is the functional group of an aldehyde?
-CHO
What are aldehydes easily oxidised to?
Carboxylic acids
Why are aldehydes easily oxidised?
Aldehydes are easily oxidised because they have an hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl [C=O] bond.
What does the name of aldehydes end in?
-al
E.g. Ethanal
E.g. Propanal
Where is the CHO functional group found on an atom?
At the END of the carbon chain.
What is the functional group of ketones?
-CCOC
Why are ketones not easily oxidised?
Lack of hydrogen attached to its functional group
What does the name of ketones end in?
-one
E.g. Ethanone
E.g. Propanone
Where is the CCOC functional group found on an atom
Anywhere BUT the end.
Is the carbonyl functional group polar? If so, why?
Yes it is this is because of the difference in electronegativity.
Why are aldehydes easily oxidised?
The hydrogen group on the carbon from the C=O bond allows for oxidation
Why are ketones not so easily oxidised?
Ketones don’t have a hydrogen atom attached to the C]O bond, so they are resistant to oxidation,
ONLY strong oxidising agents like KMnO4 can oxidise ketones.
Describe the oxidation of aldehydes using acidified potassium dichromate to form carboxylic acids
Reaction name - Oxidation of an aldehyde
Reagents - Oxidising agent and H2SO4
Conditions - Acidified conditions and reflux
Products - Carboxylic acid + Water
When aldehydes are oxidised to a carboxylic acid, what is the colour change?
Orange to Green.
Give the balanced equation for the oxidation of an aldehyde to a carboylic acid
RCHO + [O] → RCOOH + H2O
What is meant by a nucleophile?
An electron pair donor.
Give two examples of nucleophiles
HCN and NaBH4