Question

How to convert benzaldehyde to benzophenone?

Answer 1

Conversion of Benzaldehyde to Benzophenone:-

Step 1: Formation of Benzoic acid

Benzaldehyde is treated with Potassium permanganate ${\mathrm{KMnO}}_4$to oxidize it, which as a result forms Benzoic acid:

Step 2: Fomation of Benzene

The Benzoic acid formed is then treated with Sodium hydroxide$\left(\mathrm{NaOH}\right)$ and Calcium oxide$\left(\mathrm{CaO}\right)$ in the presence of heat to form Benzene:

Step 3: Formation of Benzophenone

Finally, this Benzene is reacted with Benzoyl chloride in presence of Aluminium chloride$\left({\mathrm{AlCl}}_3\right)$ to form Benzophenone. This reaction is also called Friedel-Crafts acylation.

Thus the overall reaction becomes:

This conversion of Benzaldehyde to Benzophenone is a 3 step reaction.