Question

The reaction shown is the Blanc chloromethylation of benzene. Benzene reacts with formaldehyde (HCHO) and hydrogen chloride (HCl) in the presence of zinc chloride (ZnCl2), a Lewis acid catalyst, to undergo electrophilic aromatic substitution. This process introduces a chloromethyl group (-CH2Cl) onto the benzene ring, forming benzyl chloride.

$\text{Benzene} + CH_2O + HCl \xrightarrow{ZnCl_2} \text{Benzyl chloride}$

Answer 1

Benzyl chloride

Answer 2

The Blanc chloromethylation is an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction where benzene reacts with formaldehyde and hydrogen chloride in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst like zinc chloride to form benzyl chloride.