[Steenrod]

How do we synthesize 1-phenylethanol from benzene. I tried Friedel-Crafts Alkylation by adding
[itex]CH_3CH_2Cl[/itex] along with [itex]AlCl_3[/itex] to benzene but what next?

Thanks.

[discodermolide]

Try using acetyl chloride as a starting material.

[Steenrod]

Actually, I am bound to start from benzene. That is we need to convert benzene to 1-phenylphenol.

[discodermolide]

React benzene with acetyl chloride in a Friedel-Crafts reaction!!!

[Steenrod]

Oh God.I should be more careful while posting.Yes, after doing that can we finish it off by using HBr and [itex]H_3O^{+}[/itex]?

[discodermolide]

No, reduce the carbonyl group to the alcohol.

[Steenrod]

Oh,thank you.But what about synthesizing 2-phenylethanol from benzene?

[discodermolide]

Try try the FC reaction with chloroacetic acid.

[Steenrod]

Sorry, but I have no experience doing this sort of reaction.How do we carry this out?(Can you please right the reaction?)

I will be obliged if you provide another method to carry out this conversion(benzene to 2-phenylethanol).I am sure my school won't accept the above reaction saying, it is out of the syllabus!(sorry, that's weird but it is true)
Thanks.

[discodermolide]

Here it is. BH3.DMS is a reducing agent that converts carboxylic acids to alcohols.

[Steenrod]

Thanks!Still, I would be happy if you told me an alternate method to do this.

[discodermolide]

Try using chloroacetaldehyde then reducing.

Also look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenethyl_alcohol

[orgopete]

This looks like a problem perhaps suited to Grignard chemistry. If so, you should be able to synthesize both compound via a Grignard reagent. How would you make a Grignard from benzene?

[Steenrod]

Let me guess:

Benzene+[itex]AlCl_3+Cl_2[/itex]=chlorbenzene which reacts with [itex]Mg[/itex] to give phenyl magnesium chloride .What next?

[discodermolide]

Look at the link I posted!!!