The synthesis of ibuprofen from 2-methylpropylbenzene and carbon dioxide involves several steps, with different conditions and catalysts required for each step. Here's an overview of the process:1. Friedel-Crafts Alkylation: The first step is the alkylation of the benzene ring in 2-methylpropylbenzene also known as isobutylbenzene using propionyl chloride. This reaction requires a Lewis acid catalyst, typically aluminum chloride AlCl3 or iron III chloride FeCl3 . The reaction is carried out at a temperature of around 80C. The intermediate compound produced in this step is 2- 4-isobutylphenyl propanoyl chloride.2. Hydrolysis: The next step is the hydrolysis of the acyl chloride group in the intermediate compound to form a carboxylic acid. This can be achieved by adding water to the reaction mixture and heating it to around 100C. The intermediate compound produced in this step is 2- 4-isobutylphenyl propionic acid, which is also known as -methyl-4- 2-methylpropyl benzeneacetic acid.3. Carboxylation: In this step, carbon dioxide CO2 is introduced to the reaction mixture to form a new carboxylic acid group. The reaction is carried out under high pressure around 30 atm and high temperature around 150C . A transition metal catalyst, such as palladium Pd or nickel Ni on a support like activated carbon or alumina, is used to facilitate the carboxylation. The intermediate compound produced in this step is 2- 4-isobutylphenyl butyric acid.4. Decarboxylation: The final step is the decarboxylation of the 2- 4-isobutylphenyl butyric acid to form ibuprofen. This reaction requires heating the reaction mixture to around 230C in the presence of a strong base, such as sodium hydroxide NaOH or potassium hydroxide KOH . The decarboxylation results in the loss of a carbon dioxide molecule and the formation of the final product, ibuprofen.In summary, the successful synthesis of ibuprofen from 2-methylpropylbenzene and carbon dioxide requires a series of reactions with different conditions and catalysts, including Lewis acids AlCl3 or FeCl3 , transition metal catalysts Pd or Ni , and strong bases NaOH or KOH . The intermediate compounds produced during the process are 2- 4-isobutylphenyl propanoyl chloride, 2- 4-isobutylphenyl propionic acid, and 2- 4-isobutylphenyl butyric acid.