Question

How to convert ethyl alcohol to tertiary butyl alcohol

Answer 1

Ethanol can be converted to tertiary butyl alcohol in the following manner.



Ethanol can be converted to tertiary butyl alcohol in the following manner.



Answer 2

This can be achieved by the following series of reactions:
(1) Ethyl alcohol on complete oxidation gives acetic acid, CH3COOH.
(2) Acetic acid is neutarlised with lime (CaO) to get calcium acetate, (CH3COO)2Ca.
(3) Calcium acetate on dry distillation yields acetone, CH3COCH3.
(4) Acetone on treatment with methyl magnesium bromide (Grignard reagent) followed by hydrolysis gives tert-butyl alcohol, (CH3)3COH.