StreakPeaked· Practice

ExamsJEE AdvancedChemistry

In the Reimer-Tiemann reaction (phenol + CHCl3 + NaOH, heated), which intermediate is formed on the pathway to salicylaldehyde?

  1. o-quinone methide intermediate with a -CCl2H side chain
  2. phenoxide intermediate bearing a -CHCl2 side chain
  3. phenoxide intermediate bearing a -CCl3 side chain
  4. o-quinone methide intermediate with a -CHCl side chain

Correct answer: phenoxide intermediate bearing a -CCl3 side chain

Solution

Mechanism: (1) CHCl3 + NaOH ->:CCl2 (dichlorocarbene) + NaCl + H2O. (2) Phenoxide ion attacks:CCl2 at ortho position to form an adduct - the ring carbon bears the -CCl3 group after proton shift (the o-position C gains CCl3 group, with the O- still on phenoxide). This is the phenoxide intermediate with -CCl3 on the ring. (3) Hydrolysis of -CCl3 and rearrangement gives -CHO. The key intermediate is the phenoxide (or cyclohexadienyl anion) with a -CCl3 substituent at ortho position.

Related JEE Advanced Chemistry questions

⚔️ Practice JEE Advanced Chemistry free + battle 1v1 →