Convert the following :(a) Ethanol to ethoxyethane.(b) Phenol to p-benzoquinone(c) Salicylic acid to aspirin

Answer:

(a) Dehydration of ethanol with conc. H₂SO₄ at 413 K:

2 C₂H₅OH \(\xrightarrow{\text{conc. H}_2\text{SO}_4,\ 413\ \text{K}}\) C₂H₅–O–C₂H₅ + H₂O

(b) Oxidation of phenol with sodium dichromate and sulphuric acid (chromic acid):

C₆H₅OH \(\xrightarrow{\text{Na}_2\text{Cr}_2\text{O}_7/\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4}\) O=C₆H₄=O (p-benzoquinone) [a six-membered ring with C=O groups at positions 1 and 4 and two C=C bonds]

(c) Acetylation of salicylic acid with acetic anhydride (acid catalyst):

o-HO–C₆H₄–COOH + (CH₃CO)₂O \(\xrightarrow{\text{H}^+}\) o-CH₃COO–C₆H₄–COOH (aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid) + CH₃COOH