Question

Give the structure and name of the product in the following reaction.

Friedel-Crafts methylation of chlorobenzene.

Answer 1

Friedel–Crafts methylation of chlorobenzene means introducing a –CH₃ group (methyl group) into the benzene ring of chlorobenzene using methyl chloride (CH₃Cl) and AlCl₃ as catalyst.

1.  Reaction:
   \[\ce{C6H5Cl + CH3Cl ->[AlCl3][]o-ClC6H4CH3 + p-ClC6H4CH3 + HCl}\]
2. Structure:
   • o-Chlorotoluene
     
   • p-Chlorotoluene
     
3. Name of product:
   • o-Chlorotoluene (2-chlorotoluene)
   • p-Chlorotoluene (4-chlorotoluene)