Question

Among the following sets of reactants which one produces anisole?

• A. $ CH_3 CHO,RMgX $
• B. $ C_6 H_5 OH,NaOH, CH_3l $
• C. $ C_6 H_5 OH, neutral, FeCl_3 $
• D. $ C_6 H_5 -CH_3, CH_3COCl, AlCl_3 $

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

To determine the reactants that produce anisole, we will evaluate each given set of reactants and their respective reactions:

1. CH_3CHO, RMgX
   • This set involves a Grignard reaction where the Grignard reagent RMgX attacks the carbonyl compound CH_3CHO. This reaction produces a secondary alcohol upon hydrolysis, not anisole.
2. C_6H_5OH, NaOH, CH_3I
   • The process begins with phenol C_6H_5OH reacting with sodium hydroxide NaOH to form sodium phenoxide C_6H_5ONa.
   • Subsequently, C_6H_5ONa reacts with methyl iodide CH_3I via a nucleophilic substitution reaction, producing anisole C_6H_5OCH_3 and sodium iodide NaI.
   • This reaction is known as a Williamson Ether Synthesis.
3. C_6H_5OH, neutral, FeCl_3
   • In this set, FeCl_3 is typically used as a test for phenols, forming a colored complex. This reaction does not produce anisole.
4. C_6H_5-CH_3, CH_3COCl, AlCl_3
   • This is a Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction where toluene reacts with acetyl chloride CH_3COCl in the presence of a catalyst AlCl_3 to form acetophenone.
   • Anisole is not the product of this reaction.

From the above analysis, the correct set of reactants that produces anisole is C_6H_5OH, NaOH, CH_3I. The formation of anisole through Williamson Ether Synthesis is shown in the reactions below:

C_6H_5OH + NaOH \rightarrow C_6H_5ONa + H_2O

C_6H_5ONa + CH_3I \rightarrow C_6H_5OCH_3 + NaI

This process efficiently converts phenol into anisole. Therefore, the correct answer is: C_6H_5OH, NaOH, CH_3I.