The synthesis of phenylalanine from benzyl chloride and ammonia can be achieved through the following two-step process:1. Nucleophilic substitution of benzyl chloride with ammonia to form benzylamine.2. Strecker synthesis to convert benzylamine into phenylalanine using ammonium chloride and potassium cyanide.Step 1: Nucleophilic substitution of benzyl chloride with ammoniaFor this reaction, the optimal molar ratio of benzyl chloride to ammonia is 1:2. This ensures that there is an excess of ammonia to drive the reaction to completion and minimize the formation of side products. The reaction can be carried out in a polar aprotic solvent, such as dimethylformamide DMF or dimethyl sulfoxide DMSO .Temperature: The reaction can be performed at room temperature 25C or slightly above 30-40C to increase the reaction rate.Reaction time: The reaction time depends on the specific conditions and the scale of the reaction. Typically, it can take anywhere from a few hours to overnight for the reaction to reach completion. Monitoring the reaction progress using thin-layer chromatography TLC or another analytical technique is recommended.Step 2: Strecker synthesisFor the Strecker synthesis, the optimal molar ratio of benzylamine to ammonium chloride to potassium cyanide is 1:1:1. This ensures that all reactants are present in stoichiometric amounts.Temperature: The Strecker synthesis is typically performed at room temperature 25C or slightly above 30-40C to increase the reaction rate.Reaction time: The reaction time for the Strecker synthesis can vary depending on the specific conditions and the scale of the reaction. Generally, it can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days for the reaction to reach completion. Monitoring the reaction progress using thin-layer chromatography TLC or another analytical technique is recommended.After the Strecker synthesis, the crude product can be purified using standard techniques such as recrystallization or chromatography to obtain the desired phenylalanine.