Benzyl group

Not to be confused with benzil, benzoyl, or phenyl.

In organic chemistry, benzyl is the substituent or molecular fragment possessing the structure R−CH₂−C₆H₅. Benzyl features a benzene ring (C₆H₆) attached to a methylene group (−CH₂−).^[1]

Benzyl group and derivatives: Benzyl group, benzyl radical, benzyl amine, benzyl bromide, benzyl chloroformate, and benzyl methyl ether. R = heteroatom, alkyl, aryl, allyl etc. or other substituents.

Nomenclature

In IUPAC nomenclature, the prefix benzyl refers to a C₆H₅CH₂ substituent, for example benzyl chloride or benzyl benzoate. Benzyl is not to be confused with phenyl with the formula C₆H₅. The term benzylic is used to describe the position of the first carbon bonded to a benzene or other aromatic ring. For example, (C₆H₅)(CH₃)₂C⁺ is referred to as a "benzylic" carbocation. The benzyl free radical has the formula C₆H₅CH₂•. The benzyl cation or phenylcarbenium ion is the carbocation with formula C₆H₅CH+2; the benzyl anion or phenylmethanide ion is the carbanion with the formula C₆H₅CH−2. None of these species can be formed in significant amounts in the solution phase under normal conditions, but they are useful referents for discussion of reaction mechanisms and may exist as reactive intermediates.

Abbreviations

Benzyl is most commonly abbreviated Bn. For example, benzyl alcohol can be represented as BnOH. Less common abbreviations are Bzl and Bz, the latter of which is ambiguous as it is also the standard abbreviation for the benzoyl group C₆H₅C(O)−. Likewise, benzyl should not be confused with the phenyl group C₆H₅−, abbreviated Ph.

Reactivity of benzylic centers

The enhanced reactivity of benzylic positions is attributed to the low bond dissociation energy for benzylic C−H bonds. Specifically, the bond C₆H₅CH₂−H is about 10–15% weaker than other kinds of C−H bonds. The neighboring aromatic ring stabilizes benzyl radicals. The data tabulated below compare benzylic C−H bond to related C−H bond strengths.

Bond	Bond	Bond-dissociation energy[2][3]		Comment
		(kcal/mol)	(kJ/mol)
C6H5CH2−H	benzylic C−H bond	90	377	akin to allylic C−H bonds such bonds show enhanced reactivity
H3C−H	methyl C−H bond	105	439	one of the strongest aliphatic C−H bonds
C2H5−H	ethyl C−H bond	101	423	slightly weaker than H3C−H
C6H5−H	phenyl C−H bond	113	473	comparable to vinyl radical, rare
CH2=CHCH2−H	allylic C–H bond	89	372	similar to benzylic C-H
(C6H4)2CH−H	fluorenyl C–H bond	80		more activated vs diphenylmethyle (pKa = 22.6)
(C6H5)2CH−H	diphenylmethyl C–H bond	82		"doubly benzylic" (pKa = 32.2)
(C6H5)3C−H	trityl C–H bond	81	339	"triply benzylic"

The weakness of the C−H bond reflects the stability of the benzylic radical. For related reasons, benzylic substituents exhibit enhanced reactivity, as in oxidation, free radical halogenation, or hydrogenolysis. As a practical example, in the presence of suitable catalysts, p-xylene oxidizes exclusively at the benzylic positions to give terephthalic acid:

${\displaystyle {\ce {CH3C6H4CH3 + 3 O2 -> HO2CC6H4CO2H + 2 H2O}}}$

Millions of tonnes of terephthalic acid are produced annually by this method.^[4]

Functionalization at the benzylic position

In a few cases, these benzylic transformations occur under conditions suitable for lab synthesis. The Wohl-Ziegler reaction will brominate a benzylic C–H bond: (ArCHR₂ → ArCBrR₂).^[5] Any non-tertiary benzylic alkyl group will be oxidized to a carboxyl group by aqueous potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) or concentrated nitric acid (HNO₃): (ArCHR₂ → ArCOOH).^[6] Finally, the complex of chromium trioxide and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (CrO₃−dmpyz) will selectively oxidize a benzylic methylene group to a carbonyl: (ArCH₂R → ArC(O)R).^[7] 2-iodoxybenzoic acid in DMSO performs similarly.^[8]

As a protecting group

Benzyl groups are occasionally employed as protecting groups in organic synthesis. Their installation and especially their removal require relatively harsh conditions, so benzyl is not typically preferred for protection.^[9]

Alcohol protection

Benzyl is commonly used in organic synthesis as a robust protecting group for alcohols and carboxylic acids.

• Treatment of alcohol with a strong base such as powdered potassium hydroxide or sodium hydride and benzyl halide (BnCl or BnBr)^[9][10]

  

• Monobenzylation of diols can be achieved using Ag₂O in dimethylformamide (DMF) at ambient to elevated temperatures^[11]
• Primary alcohols can be selectively benzylated in presence of phenol functional groups using Cu(acac)₂^[12]

Deprotection methods

Benzyl ethers can be removed under reductive conditions, oxidative conditions, and the use of Lewis acids.^[9]

• Removed using hydrogenolysis^[13]

  

• Single electron process with Na/NH₃ or Li/NH₃

• Benzyl protecting groups can be removed using a wide range of oxidizing agents including:
  • CrO₃/acetic acid at ambient temperature
  • Ozone
  • N-Bromosuccinimide (NBS)
  • N-Iodosuccinimide (NIS)

• Trimethylsilyl iodide (Me₃SiI) in dichloromethane at ambient temperature (selectivity can be achieved under specific conditions)

The p-methoxybenzyl protecting group

p-Methoxybenzyl (PMB) is used as a protecting group for alcohols in organic synthesis (4-Methoxybenzylthiol is used to protect thiols).

The p-methoxybenzyl group

• Strong base such as powdered potassium hydroxide or sodium hydride and p-methoxybenzyl halide (chloride or bromide)^[14][15]
• 4-methoxybenzyl-2,2,2-trichloroacetimidate can be used to install the PMB group in presence of:
  • Scandium (III) triflate (Sc(OTf)₃) in toluene at 0 °C^[16]
  • Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) in dichloromethane at 0 °C^[17]

    

Deprotection methods

• 2,3-Dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ)^[18]

  

• Conditions for deprotection of benzyl group are applicable for cleavage of the PMB protecting group

Amine protection

The benzyl group is occasionally used as a protecting group for amines in organic synthesis. Other methods exist.^[9]

• Aqueous potassium carbonate and benzyl halide (BnCl, BnBr) in methanol^[19]

  

• Benzaldehyde, 6 M HCl and NaBH₃CN in methanol^[20]

  

Deprotection methods

• Hydrogenation in the presence of the palladium catalyst^[21]

Structure of tetrabenzylzirconium with H atoms omitted for clarity.^[22]

See also

• Benzylamine