Conversion of Ethylbenzene to 2-phenylpropionic acid

Explanation

To convert ethylbenzene to 2-phenylpropionic acid, we can follow a series of chemical reactions. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process:

### Step 1: Halogenation
- **Reaction**: Ethylbenzene is treated with chlorine (Cl2) in the presence of sunlight (or UV light).
- **Mechanism**: This reaction leads to benzylic chlorination, where a chlorine atom replaces one of the hydrogen atoms on the benzylic carbon (the carbon adjacent to the benzene ring).
- **Product**: The product of this step is 1-chloroethylbenzene.

### Step 2: Nucleophilic Substitution
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