NEETChemistryAldehydes and Ketones
Consider the following two-step reaction sequence: Benzoyl chloride H ₂/ Pd-BaSO ₄ A A conc. NaOH, B + C Identify the final products B and C.
Options
- ABenzyl alcohol and sodium benzoate
- BBenzyl alcohol and benzoic acid
- CBenzaldehyde and sodium benzoate
- DCinnamic acid and water
Correct answer
A. Benzyl alcohol and sodium benzoate
Step-by-step solution
Benzoyl chloride undergoes Rosenmund reduction in the presence of H ₂ and Pd-BaSO ₄ to form benzaldehyde (Intermediate A). Benzaldehyde lacks -hydrogen atoms. When heated with concentrated NaOH, it undergoes the Cannizzaro reaction (disproportionation). One molecule is reduced to benzyl alcohol, and another is oxidized to sodium benzoate. Therefore, products B and C are benzyl alcohol and sodium benzoate. Benzoic acid is not formed directly because the reaction occurs in a strongly basic medium, which yields the ca