JEE Main Chemistry question

Which of the following compounds cannot form an optically active cyanohydrin on reaction with HCN?

(A)CH₃CHOCorrect
(B)Benzaldehyde
(C)An unsymmetrical ketone, alternate reading
(D)A different unsymmetrical ketone, alternate reading

Answer: (A)

Solution

HCN addition to a carbonyl creates a new stereocentre only if the resulting carbon bears four different groups. For CH₃CHO, HCN addition gives CH₃CH(OH)CN, whose carbon bears H, OH, CN and CH₃ — four different groups, in fact THIS carbon IS a stereocentre, so this compound actually WOULD give an optically active

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Question ID VK-149425