Production of Alcohols (CIE A Level Chemistry)

• Alcohols are compounds that contain at least one hydroxy (-OH) group
• The general formula of alcohols is C_nH_2n+1OH
• Alcohols can be prepared by a wide range of chemical reactions

Electrophilic addition of alkenes

• When hot steam is reacted with an alkene, using concentrated phosphoric(V) acid (H₃PO₄)as a catalyst, electrophilic addition takes place to form an alcohol

Electrophilic addition of steam to alkenes to form an alcohol

Oxidation of alkenes

• Cold, dilute KMnO₄ is a mild oxidising agent and oxidises alkenes
• The C-C double bond is not fully broken and a diol is formed
  • A diol is a compound with two hydroxy, -OH, groups

Oxidation of alkenes using cold, dilute KMnO₄ to form a diol

Nucleophilic substitution of halogenoalkanes

• The halide atom in halogenoalkanes can be substituted when heated with aqueous NaOH in a nucleophilic substitution reaction

Nucleophilic substitution of halogenoalkanes using NaOH to form an alcohol

Reduction of aldehyde & ketones

• Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced by reducing agents such as NaBH₄ or LiAlH₄ 

• Aldehydes are reduced to primary alcohols
  • The carbon attached to the hydroxy group is bonded to one other alkyl group

• Ketones are reduced to secondary alcohols
  • The carbon attached to the hydroxy group is bonded to two other alkyl groups

Reduction of aldehydes and ketones to form primary and secondary alcohols

Reduction of carboxylic acids

• Similarly, carboxylic acids are reduced by LiAlH₄ to primary alcohols

Reduction of carboxylic acids to primary alcohols

Hydrolysis of ester

• Esters are made by a condensation reaction between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid
• When an ester is heated with dilute acid or alkali, hydrolysis will take place and the carboxylic acid and alcohol will be reformed

Hydrolysis of esters to form alcohols

Alcohol production reactions table