hodges - 14-9-2007 at 13:59
I know that the benzyl group consists of the benzene ring with a carbon bond in place of one of the hydrogen bonds. Therefore benzyl alcohol (for
example) can be thought of as a benzene atom with one of the hydrogen bonds replaced with a bond to a menthyl alcohol group.
My question is this - would it be possible to replace one of the hydrogen bonds in benzene directly with an OH group, without the extra carbon? In
other words, instead of having C6H5CH2OH, have C6H5OH? What would that compound be called, and would the benzene ring structure remain intact?
Thanks,
Hodges
Magpie - 14-9-2007 at 14:06
Yes, this is readily achievable. The compound is called phenol. And yes, the benzene ring is fully intact.
[Edited on by Magpie]
hodges - 14-9-2007 at 15:13
Okay, I see. The phenyl group represents the benzene ring with one of the hydrogens substituted with another group (OH in the case of phenol). The
benzyl group has an additional carbon group, with one of its hydrogens instead substituted for another group.
Presumably this only works when replacing a single bond, correct? Trying to make something like "phenaldehyde", where the oxygen is double-bonded to
a single position on the ring would not leave the benzene ring intact, correct?
Hodges
Magpie - 14-9-2007 at 15:35
Yes and yes. The carbons in the benzene ring are tetravalent, as is normally the case. If you placed a double bond on a carbon to an oxygen you
could not accommodate the remaining three bonds to the adjacent carbons.