Question

How do you convert Acetophenone to Benzoic acid ?

Hint:

Remember the important oxidation: \[ \text{Acetophenone} \left(C_6H_5COCH_3\right) \overset{[O]}{\longrightarrow} \text{Benzoic Acid} \left(C_6H_5COOH\right) \] Strong oxidising agents such as \(KMnO_4\) and \(K_2Cr_2O_7\) convert aromatic side chains into carboxylic acids.

Answer 1

Step 1: Choose the oxidising agent.
Acetophenone ($C_6H_5COCH_3$) has a benzylic ketone side chain. Hot acidified $KMnO_4$ oxidises such side chains completely to the carboxyl group $-COOH$.
Step 2: What happens to the side chain.
The entire $-COCH_3$ group is oxidised. Both carbon atoms of the side chain are converted together into a single $-COOH$ group attached to the ring; the benzene ring itself remains intact.
Step 3: Write the overall reaction.
\[ C_6H_5COCH_3 \xrightarrow{KMnO_4/H^+,\,\Delta} C_6H_5COOH \] \[ \boxed{C_6H_5COCH_3 \xrightarrow{KMnO_4/H^+,\,\Delta} C_6H_5COOH} \]