Hydrocarbons like benzene are metabolized in the body to arene oxides, which rearrange | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Organic Chemistry

Chapter 4 Problem 4.71

Question

Hydrocarbons like benzene are metabolized in the body to arene oxides, which rearrange to form phenols. This is an example of a general process in the body, in which an unwanted compound (benzene) is converted to a more water-soluble derivative called a metabolite, so that it can be excreted more readily from the body. O OH benzene arene oxide phenol a. Classify each of these reactions as oxidation, reduction, or neither. b. Explain why phenol is more water soluble than benzene. This means that phenol dissolves in urine, which is largely water, to a greater extent than benzene.

Solution

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The first step in solving 4 problem number 71 trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: Hydrocarbons like benzene are metabolized in the body to arene oxides, which rearrange to form phenols. This is an example of a general process in the body, in which an unwanted compound (benzene) is converted to a more water-soluble derivative called a metabolite, so that it can be excreted more readily from the body. O OH benzene arene oxide phenol a. Classify each of these reactions as oxidation, reduction, or neither. b. Explain why phenol is more water soluble than benzene. This means that phenol dissolves in urine, which is largely water, to a greater extent than benzene.
From the textbook chapter Alkanes you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.

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Title Organic Chemistry 3 
Author Janice Gorzynski Smith
ISBN 9780077354725

Hydrocarbons like benzene are metabolized in the body to arene oxides, which rearrange

Chapter 4 textbook questions

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