Question

In each reaction box, place the best reagent and conditions from the list below. (2-Phenyloxirane/Styrene oxide [?] synthesized from benzene.)

Answer 1

Answer 2

1)CH3CH2CH2Cl AlCL3

2)NBS ROOR HV

3) (CH3)3CO-

4) mCPBA

Answer 3

Step 1 involves Friedel–Crafts alkylation of benzene with chloroethane and AlCl3, forming ethylbenzene. 

Step 2 involves radical bromination of the benzylic carbon via N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of light and peroxide, forming (1-bromoethyl)benzene. 

Step 3 involves the strong bulky base t-butoxide performing an E2 elimination of HBr, forming vinyl benzene. 

Step 4 is the epoxidatioin of vinyl benzene by meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, forming 2-phenyloxirane.