Question

How can I make acetophenone from benzene?

Answer 1

Friedel-Crafts acylation

Explanation:

Benzene is reacted with acetyl chloride in the presence of a Lewis acid such as AlCl3.

`AlCl_3` + `H_3C-COCl` `->` `AlCl_4^-` + `H_3C-CO^+`
`C_6H_6` + `H_3C-CO^+` `->` `C_6H_6^+`-`COCH_3`
`C_6H_6^+` `-COCH_3`+ `AlCl_4^-` `->` `C_6H_5-COCH_3`+`HCl`+`AlCl_3`