Question

How will you convert benzene into aniline?

Answer 1

Benzene to aniline:

Step 1 Formation of Nitrobenzene:

• Initially, the benzene ring is treated with fuming nitric acid in the presence of ${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4$ to generate nitrobenzene.
• The active reagent ${{\mathrm{NO}}_2}^{+}$ substitutes a proton from the benzene ring.

Step 2 Formation of Aniline:

• Now the nitrobenzene upon catalytic hydrogenation leads to the generation of the desired aniline compound.
• The reagent used for this purpose is 10% $\mathrm{Pd}$ on carbon using ethanol solvent which acts as a hydrogen gas absorbent and leads to the reduction of the nitro group into amino groups.