JEE Main Chemistry question

[IIT 1991] *m*-Chlorobenzaldehyde reacts with concentrated KOH at room temperature to give

(A)Potassium *m*-chlorobenzoate and *m*-hydroxybenzaldehyde
(B)*m*-Hydroxybenzaldehyde and *m*-chlorobenzyl alcohol
(C)*m*-Chlorobenzyl alcohol and *m*-hydroxybenzyl alcohol
(D)Potassium *m*-chlorobenzoate and *m*-chlorobenzyl alcoholCorrect

Answer: (D)

Solution

*m*-Chlorobenzaldehyde has no α-hydrogen, so strong base drives a simple Cannizzaro disproportionation: one molecule is oxidised to the carboxylate (potassium *m*-chlorobenzoate) and another is reduced to the

See the full step-by-step solution

Create a free account to read the complete working, and practise questions like this in a timed test.

Create a free account

Question ID VK-140386