Alcohols in Organic Synthesis
Alcohols are active and focused reagents within organic synthesis introduced in numerous reactions to generate complicated chemicals. They are routinely used to reduce double bonds, introduce functional groups or alter existing ones by Grignard reactions, reduction reactions, and other transformations, respectively.
Use of Alcohols in Grignard Reactions
Alcohols are usually used as starting materials for the synthesis of the Grignard reagents. They are organo-magnesium compounds, which are the most reactive analogs of conventional organometallic reagents. Grignard reagents are found to add nucleophilicity to larger number of electrophiles, including carbonyl compounds, derive from ketones, aldehydes, etc. Such type of mechanism for the syntheses of carbon-carbon bonds are useful for building new compounds and to be used within the framework of organic chemistry.
RMgX + ROH → ROR + MgOHX
Alcohol Reduction Reactions
Reduction of alcohols can lead to the formation of alkanes or other reduced products, depending on the reducing agent used.
Reduction of Alcohols to Alkanes
Here, alcohols are reduced to alkanes by hydrogen gas under the circumstances involving suitable catalysts such as platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), or nickel (Ni). The role of hydrogen gas (H2), which is the reducing agent, is to reduce the metal ions into metallic form. The process more often happens under high temperature and pressure.
CH3CH2OH + H2 → CH3CH3 + H2O
Reduction of Alcohols to Alkenes
Alcohols, too, can be converted into alkenes under specific set of conditions. A common technique employs reagents like concentrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and heat. This reaction is known as dehydration, where a molecule of water is removed from the alcohol molecule, and the alkene is formed as the product.
CH3CH2OH → CH2 = CH2 + H2O
Rеaction of Alcohols – Equations, Examples, Uses
Alcohols are a class of organic compounds characterized by the presence of a hydroxyl (-OH) functional group attached to a carbon atom. Alcohols undergo various reactions such as oxidation, reduction, esterification , dehydration, substitution reaction to yield various compounds which are of important use.
In this article, we’re going to look into the reactions of alcohols along with their chemical equations and understand their applications for various uses.
Table of Content
- What is Alcohols in Chemistry?
- Common Reactions of Alcohols
- Acid-Catalyzed Reactions of Alcohols
- Alcohols in Organic Synthesis
- Special Cases and Reactions of Phenols
- Uses of Alcohol Reactions