Question

Write chemical equations of the following reactions: 
(i) Phenol is treated with conc. HNO\(_3\) 
(ii) Propene is treated with B\(_2\)H\(_6\) followed by oxidation by H\(_2\)O\(_2\)/OH\(^-\) 
(iii) Sodium t-butoxide is treated with CH\(_3\)Cl

Hint:

In organic chemistry, reactions involving nitro compounds, oxidation, and ether formation are common and essential for synthesizing various organic molecules.

Answer 1

(i) Phenol reacts with concentrated nitric acid (HNO\(_3\)) to give a mixture of nitrophenols. The major product is 2,4,6-nitrophenol (picric acid). The reaction is: \[ \text{C\(_6\)H\(_5\)OH + HNO\(_3\) } \rightarrow \text{ C\(_6\)H\(_3\)NO\(_2\)OH (2,4,6-nitrophenol) } \]
(ii) Propene reacts with diborane (B\(_2\)H\(_6\)) followed by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide (H\(_2\)O\(_2\)) in the presence of hydroxide ions (OH\(^-\)) to form propan-2-ol. The reaction is: \[ \text{CH\(_2\)=CH\(_2\) + B\(_2\)H\(_6\) } \rightarrow \text{ CH\(_3\)CH\(_2\)B(OH) } \] \[ \text{CH\(_3\)CH\(_2\)B(OH) + H\(_2\)O\(_2\) } \rightarrow \text{ CH\(_3\)CH\(_2\)OH (propan-2-ol) } \]
(iii) Sodium t-butoxide (CH\(_3\)C(OH)CH\(_3\)C\(_2\)O) reacts with methyl chloride (CH\(_3\)Cl) to form isobutyl methyl ether. The reaction is: \[ \text{CH\(_3\)C(OH)CH\(_3\)C\(_2\)O + CH\(_3\)Cl } \rightarrow \text{ CH\(_3\)C(OMe)CH\(_3\)C\(_2\)O (Isobutyl methyl ether) } \]