COMEDK20269 May 2026Evening ShiftChemistryAldehydes and KetonesActual
Identify products [P₁ ] and [P₂ ] formed when Benzonitrile undergoes the following reactions.
Options
- A[P ₁ ] Phenol and [P ₂ ] Sodium benzoate
- B[P ₁ ] –Hydroxy phenylacetic acid and [P ₂ ] Benzyl alcohol
- C[P ₁ ] Benzoyl chloride and [P ₂ ] Acetophenone
- D[P ₁ ] Acetophenone and [P ₂ ] Benzoic acid
Correct answer
B. [P ₁ ] –Hydroxy phenylacetic acid and [P ₂ ] Benzyl alcohol
Step-by-step solution
1. Formation of [X]: Benzonitrile ( C₆H₅CN ) undergoes Stephen reduction when treated with SnCl₂/HCl in ether, forming an imine intermediate. Subsequent acid hydrolysis ( H₃O^+ ) yields benzaldehyde ( C₆H₅CHO ). Thus, [X] is benzaldehyde. 2. Formation of [P₁ ]: Benzaldehyde reacts with HCN to undergo nucleophilic addition, forming benzaldehyde cyanohydrin ( C₆H₅CH(OH)CN ). Acid hydrolysis ( H₃O^+ ) of the nitrile group converts it into a carboxylic acid group, yielding -hydroxy phenylacetic acid ( C₆H₅CH(OH)COOH ).