IChO 1983 · Theory problem 7

Reaction scheme of the isomers A and B (C7H7NO): compounds A-S

Knowing that compounds A and B are isomers with the molecular formula \(\ce{C7H7NO}\) and the relative molecular mass of compound M is 93, determine the formulae of compounds A to S taking in account the reactions given in the following reaction scheme:

Figure 1

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  1. The assignments are given below. They require reversing the three reduction arrows adjoining \(N\). The \(R,S\) pair is one chemically sound completion of that branch.
Compound Name Formula SMILES
A Benzaldehyde oxime (benzaldoxime) \(\ce{C7H7NO}\) ON=Cc1ccccc1
B Benzamide \(\ce{C7H7NO}\) NC(=O)c1ccccc1
C Benzonitrile \(\ce{C7H5N}\) N#Cc1ccccc1
D Benzoic acid \(\ce{C7H6O2}\) O=C(O)c1ccccc1
E Benzaldehyde \(\ce{C7H6O}\) O=Cc1ccccc1
F 3-Nitrobenzaldehyde \(\ce{C7H5NO3}\) O=Cc1cccc([N+](=O)[O-])c1
G 3-Nitrobenzoic acid \(\ce{C7H5NO4}\) O=C(O)c1cccc([N+](=O)[O-])c1
H 3-Aminobenzoic acid \(\ce{C7H7NO2}\) Nc1cccc(C(=O)O)c1
I 3-Carboxybenzenediazonium chloride \(\ce{[C7H5N2O2]+ Cl-}\) O=C(O)c1cccc([N+]#N)c1.[Cl-]
J 3-Hydroxybenzoic acid \(\ce{C7H6O3}\) O=C(O)c1cccc(O)c1
K Phenol \(\ce{C6H6O}\) Oc1ccccc1
L Benzenediazonium chloride \(\ce{[C6H5N2]+ Cl-}\) N#[N+]c1ccccc1.[Cl-]
M Aniline \(\ce{C6H7N}\) Nc1ccccc1
N Benzylamine \(\ce{C7H9N}\) NCc1ccccc1
P Benzyl alcohol \(\ce{C7H8O}\) OCc1ccccc1
R 3-Formylbenzenediazonium chloride \(\ce{[C7H5N2O]+ Cl-}\) O=Cc1cccc([N+]#N)c1.[Cl-]
S 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde \(\ce{C7H6O2}\) O=Cc1cccc(O)c1

The scheme contains no compounds labelled \(O\) or \(Q\). The configuration about the oxime double bond in \(A\) is unspecified; its SMILES therefore leaves \(E/Z\) stereochemistry unassigned.

Solution

7. The names and structures of the compounds are listed above. In the equations below, every disubstituted benzene ring has its substituents in the 1,3-positions. The symbols \(\ce{[H]}\) and \(\ce{[O]}\) denote formal reducing and oxidizing equivalents, respectively. Hydrolyses are written as balanced overall equations with neutral products; acid/base conditions and workup are implicit where needed.

Identifying \(B\) and the \(M\rightarrow L\rightarrow K\) branch.

The reaction of \(B\) with sodium hypobromite identifies the Hofmann rearrangement of a primary amide. Its carbonyl carbon is lost, while its remaining organic group becomes attached to the amino group.

Starting from \(\ce{C7H7NO}\), the resulting amine has formula \(\ce{C6H7N}\):

\[ M_{\mathrm r}=6(12)+7(1)+14=93. \]

Relative molecular mass is dimensionless. This matches the stated value. Together with the aromatic reactions elsewhere in the scheme, this identifies \(M\) as aniline and \(B\) as benzamide.

The balanced equation under alkaline conditions is

\[ \ce{C6H5CONH2 + NaOBr + 2NaOH -> C6H5NH2 + Na2CO3 + NaBr + H2O}. \]

Aniline undergoes diazotization in cold hydrochloric acid, giving \(L\), benzenediazonium chloride:

\[ \ce{C6H5NH2 + HNO2 + HCl -> [C6H5N2]+ + Cl- + 2H2O}. \]

Warming the diazonium salt with water replaces the diazonium group by a hydroxyl group, giving \(K\), phenol:

\[ \ce{[C6H5N2]+ + Cl- + H2O -> C6H5OH + N2 + HCl}. \]

Identifying \(A,C,D,E\).

Dehydration of benzamide gives \(C\), benzonitrile:

\[ \ce{C6H5CONH2 -> C6H5CN + H2O} \qquad (B\rightarrow C). \]

Hydrolysis of either the nitrile or the amide gives \(D\), benzoic acid:

\[ \ce{C6H5CN + 2H2O -> C6H5COOH + NH3} \qquad (C\rightarrow D), \]

\[ \ce{C6H5CONH2 + H2O -> C6H5COOH + NH3} \qquad (B\rightarrow D). \]

The isomer \(A\), which also loses water to form benzonitrile but hydrolyses to a different compound, is benzaldehyde oxime. Its dehydration and hydrolysis are

\[ \ce{C6H5CH=NOH -> C6H5CN + H2O} \qquad (A\rightarrow C), \]

\[ \ce{C6H5CH=NOH + H2O -> C6H5CHO + NH2OH} \qquad (A\rightarrow E). \]

Here the nitrogen-containing hydrolysis product is hydroxylamine, NO. Thus \(E\) is benzaldehyde. The unlabelled \(E\rightarrow D\) transformation is oxidation:

\[ \ce{C6H5CHO + [O] -> C6H5COOH}. \]

Identifying \(N,P\) and resolving the reduction arrows.

Reduction of an aldoxime, a nitrile, or a primary amide gives the corresponding primary amine. Consequently, \(A,B,C\) all give \(N\), benzylamine:

\[ \ce{C6H5CH=NOH + 4[H] -> C6H5CH2NH2 + H2O} \qquad (A\rightarrow N), \]

\[ \ce{C6H5CONH2 + 4[H] -> C6H5CH2NH2 + H2O} \qquad (B\rightarrow N), \]

\[ \ce{C6H5CN + 4[H] -> C6H5CH2NH2} \qquad (C\rightarrow N). \]

These reactions require the reverse of the directions printed beside \(N\).

Benzylamine reacts with nitrous acid to give \(P\), benzyl alcohol, with evolution of nitrogen:

\[ \ce{C6H5CH2NH2 + HNO2 -> C6H5CH2OH + N2 + H2O}. \]

Controlled oxidation of benzyl alcohol produces benzaldehyde, confirming the connection \(P\rightarrow E\):

\[ \ce{C6H5CH2OH + [O] -> C6H5CHO + H2O}. \]

Identifying \(F,G,H,I,J\).

Both the aldehyde group and the carboxyl group are meta-directing in electrophilic aromatic substitution. Accordingly, the principal mononitration products are \(F\), 3-nitrobenzaldehyde, and \(G\), 3-nitrobenzoic acid:

\[ \ce{C6H5CHO + HNO3 ->[H2SO4] O2N-C6H4-CHO + H2O} \qquad (E\rightarrow F), \]

\[ \ce{C6H5COOH + HNO3 ->[H2SO4] O2N-C6H4-COOH + H2O} \qquad (D\rightarrow G). \]

Oxidation of the aldehyde group in \(F\) gives the same acid \(G\):

\[ \ce{O2N-C6H4-CHO + [O] -> O2N-C6H4-COOH}. \]

Selective reduction of the nitro group gives \(H\), 3-aminobenzoic acid:

\[ \ce{O2N-C6H4-COOH + 6[H] -> H2N-C6H4-COOH + 2H2O}. \]

Diazotization gives \(I\), 3-carboxybenzenediazonium chloride:

\[ \ce{H2N-C6H4-COOH + HNO2 + HCl -> [HOOC-C6H4-N2]+ + Cl- + 2H2O}. \]

Hydrolysis of this diazonium salt gives \(J\), 3-hydroxybenzoic acid:

\[ \ce{[HOOC-C6H4-N2]+ + Cl- + H2O -> HO-C6H4-COOH + N2 + HCl}. \]

Decarboxylation gives phenol, agreeing with the independently established identity of \(K\):

\[ \ce{HO-C6H4-COOH -> C6H5OH + CO2}. \]

This last equation expresses the overall transformation; suitable alkaline decarboxylation conditions followed by acidification can be used.

Completing \(R\rightarrow S\rightarrow J\) with standard reactions.

Choose \(R\) as 3-formylbenzenediazonium chloride. Its hydrolysis gives \(S\), 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde, by the same diazonium-to-phenol transformation used in the other branches:

\[ \ce{[OHC-C6H4-N2]+ + Cl- + H2O -> HO-C6H4-CHO + N2 + HCl}. \]

A mild, aldehyde-selective oxidation then gives \(J\):

\[ \ce{HO-C6H4-CHO + [O] -> HO-C6H4-COOH}. \]

For example, silver(I) oxidation followed by acidic workup accomplishes this transformation. Its overall stoichiometry can be represented as

\[ \ce{HO-C6H4-CHO + Ag2O -> HO-C6H4-COOH + 2Ag}. \]

The readily oxidized aldehyde group allows mild conditions that preserve the phenolic group. Thus both steps in this proposed branch are standard transformations.

The answers were checked against the official answers published by the organisers.