Using the appropriate reagents show how an alkyl group can be added to benzene ring that is the alkylation of benzene

Answer 1

The alkylation of benzene can be achieved by reacting benzene with an alkyl halide in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst. Here is the reaction:

Benzene + Alkyl Halide → Alkylbenzene

The reagent used in this reaction is an alkyl halide, such as alkyl chloride (R-Cl) or alkyl bromide (R-Br), where R represents the alkyl group. The Lewis acid catalyst commonly used is aluminum chloride (AlCl₃).

The reaction mechanism involves the formation of a complex between the Lewis acid catalyst and the alkyl halide. This complex helps in the generation of a highly reactive carbocation, which attacks the benzene ring to form a new bond.

Here is the reaction mechanism:

Step 1: Formation of the Lewis acid-alkyl halide complex
AlCl₃ + R-X → Alkyl Halide-AlCl₃ complex

Step 2: Formation of the carbocation intermediate
Alkyl Halide-AlCl₃ complex → R+ + AlCl₃ˉ

Step 3: Attack of the carbocation on the benzene ring
Benzene + R+ → Alkylbenzene

Overall, this process adds an alkyl group (R) to the benzene ring, resulting in the formation of an alkylbenzene.