How is 1-propoxypropane synthesised from propan-1-ol ? Write mechanism of the reaction.

Explanation

To synthesize 1-propoxypropane from propan-1-ol, we can follow a step-by-step mechanism involving the reaction of two molecules of propan-1-ol in the presence of a protic acid, such as sulfuric acid. Below is the detailed step-by-step solution:

### Step 1: Protonation of Propan-1-ol
1. **Starting Material**: Begin with two molecules of propan-1-ol (CH₃CH₂CH₂OH).
2. **Protonation**: One molecule of propan-1-ol is protonated by the acid (H⁺), resulting in the formation of a protonated alcohol (CH₃CH₂CH₂OH₂⁺). This step increases the electrophilicity of the alcohol.

### Step 2: Nucleophilic Attack
3. **Nucleophilic Attack**: The second molecule of propan-1-ol acts as a nucleophile and attacks the protonated alcohol. The oxygen atom of the second propan-1-ol molecule, which has a lone pair, attacks the positively charged carbon of the protonated alcohol.
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