Question

Why alcohol can not react with FeCl3

Answer 1

Ethanol could react in the following way:

C2H5OH + FeCl3 = ( C2H5O)3 Fe + HCl

This shows acidic nature of ethanol. But acidic character of aliphatic alcohol like ethanol decreases due to +I effect of hydrocarbon. Also formation of alkoxide ion is not favorable. It is because of development of negative charge in electronegative oxygen atom which makes it unstable.

So, the reaction is unstable.

However, phenol can show this reaction. It is because the formation of phenoxide ion is possible. It has opposite conditions as compared to the aliphatic acid.

C6H5OH +FeCl3 = ( C6H5O)3 Fe + HCl