ethyl benzene + KM2Cr2O7, H+ Reaction

[orthosm2021]

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What does the potassium dichromate, H+ exactly do to the ethyl benzene? (what's the product, and how you get to the product) help me out here please!

 

[299678]

first ethyl is electron donating group, so push electrons out to protonate Electrophiles, which is H+ on this reaction on ortho or para position. Now electron deficiency occur on the benzene ring, but resonance stablized (remember ! benzene is stable compound which always wants to go back to benzene). You probably remember cation ion will be most stable form on tertiary, so positive charge will be tertiary carbon directly attached with ethyl group. Through the complex mechanism (you don't need to know this mechanism for dat), (K agents is strong oxidizing agents) so oxidation occur which leaves the ethyl benzene into benzoic acid. No matter what carbon length, for example, ethyl, methy, propyl group, it gives the same benzoic acid.

guys correct me if i am wrong!

 

[orthosm2021]

Awesine, Thanks! So this applies to alkyl benzenes only? (not to alkanes w/o benzenes... or some other similar functional groups?)

 

[299678]

Think about allane is the most un-reactive substances, just like inert gas, non polar compounds, which is very different with benzene. The conjugated bases of benzene is very stable which means very acidic, so reaction occur, which is not for alkane.

Anyway thank you for quick responses on my bio question. It helps, cheers !