video tutorial Benzyl chloride preparation

Name: video tutorial - Benzyl chloride preparation
Uploaded: 2025-12-11T09:03:44.456Z
Duration: 11 min 43 s
Description: In this video we'll be preparing benzoyl chloride, a useful synthetic intermediate.

Topic: synthesis of benzoyl chloride from benzoyl alcohol using zinc chloride as catalyst in concentrated hydrochloric acid; safety warnings about the irritant nature of benzoyl chloride.
Procedure highlights: prepare ZnCl2 in HCl, heat to about 50–60°C with stirring, slowly add benzoyl alcohol to form benzoyl chloride (milky layer), maintain warmth and stir for ~2 hours to drive the reaction; separate layers.
Workup and purification: wash the aqueous layer with saturated sodium bicarbonate to neutralize acid, separate layers, remove residual water with calcium chloride, distill under controlled conditions (minimize exposure; may use vacuum), remove HCl and water, dry again with calcium chloride; yield around 34 g of benzoyl chloride (about 56%).
Purity checks and safety: conduct a test with dry ether and magnesium/iodine to verify reactivity; follow thorough safety practices, ventilation, and proper cleanup with caustic solutions; store product over desiccants.