The Skraup synthesis is a chemical reaction used to synthesize quinolines. It is named after the Czech chemist Zdenko Hans Skraup (1850-1910). In the archetypal Skraup, aniline is heated with sulfuric acid, glycerol, and an oxidizing agent, like nitrobenzene to yield quinoline.[1][2][3][4]
In this example, nitrobenzene serves as both the solvent and the oxidizing agent. The reaction, which otherwise has a reputation for being violent ("the Chemical Inquisition"), is typically conducted in the presence of ferrous sulfate.[5] Arsenic acid may be used instead of nitrobenzene and the former is better since the reaction is less violent.[6]
The reaction mechanism is unclear, yet there is good reason to believe that acrolein (obtained by dehydration of glycerol in presence of concentrated sulfuric acid) is an intermediate, which then undergoes 1,4-addition. Acrolein itself is not used since it undergoes polymerisations under the conditions of the experiment.[6]