Question

Benzoylation of an amino acid can best be done by treating the amino acid with benzoyl chloride -

• A. In presence of dil. NaOH
• B. In presence conc. NaOH
• C. In absence of NaOH
• D. In presence of HCl

Answer 1

The correct option is A In presence of dil. NaOH

Benzoylation of an amino acid can best be done by treating the amino acid with benzoyl chloride in presence of dil. NaOH.
Amino acid exists in the form of a zwitter ion in which amino group is protonated.
In presence of dil NaOH, deprotonation gives free amino group.
This enhances the rate of deprotonation.