NEETChemistryHydrocarbons
Benzene reacts with carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride in the presence of anhydrous aluminum chloride and cuprous chloride to form compound X . When compound X is heated with concentrated sodium hydroxide, it yields two compounds, Y and Z . The compounds Y and Z are respectively:
Options
- ASodium phenoxide and water
- BSodium benzoate and water
- CSodium benzoate and benzyl alcohol
- DBenzyl alcohol and sodium formate
Correct answer
C. Sodium benzoate and benzyl alcohol
Step-by-step solution
The reaction of benzene with carbon monoxide ( CO ) and hydrogen chloride ( HCl ) in the presence of anhydrous AlCl ₃ and CuCl is the Gattermann-Koch reaction. The product X formed is benzaldehyde ( C ₆ H ₅ CHO ). Benzaldehyde does not contain any -hydrogen atoms. When heated with a concentrated alkali like concentrated NaOH , aldehydes lacking -hydrogens undergo the Cannizzaro reaction. This is a disproportionation reaction where one molecule of the aldehyde is reduced to the corresponding alcohol and another is o