Benzyl group

(Benzyl group): Benzyl radical, benzyl amine, benzyl bromide, benzyl chloroformate and benzyl methyl ether. R = heteroatom, alkyl, aryl, allyl etc. or other substituents.

In organic chemistry, benzyl is the substituent or molecular fragment possessing the structure C6H5CH2–. Benzyl features a benzene ring attached to a CH2 group.[1]

Nomenclature

In IUPAC nomenclature the prefix benzyl refers to a C6H5CH2 substituent, for example benzyl chloride or benzyl benzoate. Benzyl is not to be confused with phenyl with the formula C6H5. The term benzylic is used to describe the position of the first carbon bonded to a benzene or other aromatic ring. For example, the molecule, is referred to as a "benzylic" carbocation. The benzyl free radical has the formula C
6
H
5
CH
2
. The benzylium carbocation has the formula C
6
H
5
CH+
2
; the carbanion has the formula C
6
H
5
CH
2
. None of these species can be formed in significant amounts under normal conditions, but they are useful referents for discussion of reaction mechanisms.

Abbreviations

The abbreviation "Bn" is frequently used to denote benzyl groups in nomenclature and structural depictions of chemical compounds. For example, benzyl alcohol can be represented as BnOH. This abbreviation is not to be confused with "Bz", which is the abbreviation for the benzoyl group C6H5C(O)−, or the phenyl group C6H5, abbreviated "Ph".

Reactivity of benzylic centers

The enhanced reactivity of benzylic positions is attributed to the low bond dissociation energy for benzylic C−H bonds. Specifically, the bond C6H5CH2−H is about 10–15% weaker than other kinds of C−H bonds. The neighboring aromatic ring stabilizes benzyl radicals. The data tabulated below compare benzylic C−H bond to related C−H bond strengths.

Bond Bond Bond-dissociation energy Comment
(kcal/mol) (kJ/mol)
C6H5CH2−H benzylic C−H bond 90 377 akin to allylic C−H bonds
such bonds show enhanced reactivity
H3C−H Methyl C−H bond 105 439 One of the strongest aliphatic C−H bonds
C2H5−H Ethyl C−H bond 101 423 slightly weaker than H3C−H
C6H5−H phenyl C−H bond 113 473 comparable to vinyl radical, rare
CH2=CHCH2−H allylic C–H bond 89 372 such bonds show enhanced reactivity

The weakness of the C−H bond reflects the stability of the benzylic radical. For related reasons, benzylic substituents exhibit enhanced reactivity, as in oxidation, free radical halogenation, or hydrogenolysis. As a practical example, in the presence of suitable catalysts, p-xylene oxidizes exclusively at the benzylic positions to give terephthalic acid:

CH3C6H4CH3 + 3 O2 → HO2CC6H4CO2H + 2 H2O.

Millions of tonnes of terephthalic acid are produced annually by this method.[2]

As a protecting group

Alcohol protection

Benzyl group protecting an alcohol

Benzyl, abbreviated as Bn, is commonly used in organic synthesis as a robust protecting group for alcohols and carboxylic acids.

Most common protection methods

Most common deprotection methods

Benzyl ethers can be removed under reductive conditions, oxidative conditions, and the use of Lewis Acids.[3]

Reductive conditions
Oxidative conditions
Lewis acid-based

The p-methoxybenzyl protecting group

p-Methoxybenzyl (PMB) is used as a protecting group for alcohols in organic synthesis.

The p-methoxybenzyl group

Most common protection methods

Most common deprotection methods

Amine protection

Benzyl group protecting an amine

The benzyl group is largely used as a protecting group for amines in organic synthesis.

Most common amine protection methods

Most common amine deprotection methods

See also

References

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