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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Nemesisof99 on October 11, 2009, 06:37:42 AM

Title: Allylic/ Benzylic
Post by: Nemesisof99 on October 11, 2009, 06:37:42 AM
This is pretty simple, I guess..
Can you call a benzylic alcohol allylic? It is attached to an allylic carbon anyways..
Title: Re: Allylic/ Benzylic
Post by: KritikalMass on October 11, 2009, 09:26:42 AM
Allylic refers to the position next to a double bond. Are there any double bonds in a benzene ring?
Title: Re: Allylic/ Benzylic
Post by: Arctic-Nation on October 11, 2009, 09:34:48 AM
That's not a very good question, KritikalMass. Formally, there are double bonds present in aromatic rings, but there are huge differences in reactivity between benzylic and 'real' allylic functions, so the first is not simply a subset of the latter (or vice versa).
Title: Re: Allylic/ Benzylic
Post by: Nemesisof99 on October 11, 2009, 09:39:42 AM
Is it cos of the oscillating nature of the double bonds in benzene that the reactivity of benzylic alcohol is different from that of allylic? Isn't benzylic more reactive than allylic?
Title: Re: Allylic/ Benzylic
Post by: KritikalMass on October 12, 2009, 02:41:22 AM
...there are double bonds present in aromatic rings...
I was under the impression that there are no double bonds in aromatic rings. They are longer than double bonds so how could they be double bonds?

Isn't benzylic more reactive than allylic?
Yes, it is. If you need further clarification I am more than willing to help.
Title: Re: Allylic/ Benzylic
Post by: Arctic-Nation on October 12, 2009, 01:34:34 PM
...there are double bonds present in aromatic rings...
I was under the impression that there are no double bonds in aromatic rings. They are longer than double bonds so how could they be double bonds?
OK, just a misunderstanding. Attaching an image of a benzene ring with localized double bonds created some confusion. ;)
Title: Re: Allylic/ Benzylic
Post by: KritikalMass on October 12, 2009, 02:49:11 PM
Attaching an image of a benzene ring with localized double bonds created some confusion. ;)
I agree. The more I look at that pic the more I regret posting it- it is a horrible example.  :-\