Question

What are the products of the following reaction $C_6H_5OCH_2CH_2OH \xrightarrow[\text{Heat}]{\text{excess} HBr}$

• A. $ C_{6}H_{5}OH+BrCH_{2}CH_{2}Br $
• B. $ C_{6}H_{5}OH+HOCH_{2}CH_{2}OH $
• C. $ C_{6}H_{5}Br+HOCH_{2}CH_{2}OH $
• D. $ C_{6}H_{5}OH+BrCH_{2}CH_{2}OH $

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$ C _{6} H _{5} OCH _{2} CH _{2} OH \xrightarrow { \text{Excess } HBr } C _{6} H _{5} OH + Br CH _{2} CH _{2} Br$
Alkyl aryl ethers are cleaved at the alkyl oxygen bond due to the more stable aryl-oxygen bond.