JEE Main 20262 AprilEvening Shift
- Exam
- JEE Main
- Year
- 2026
- Date
- 2 April
- Shift
- Evening Shift
- Subject
- Chemistry
- Chapter
- Hydrocarbons
JEE Main 2026 · 2 April · Evening Shift · Chemistry · Hydrocarbons
Identify compounds A and E in the following reaction sequence.
Identify compounds A and E in the following reaction sequence.

Options
- A

- B

- C

- D

Correct answer
B. 
Step-by-step solution
The starting compound is 1-ethyl-4-nitrobenzene.
Reaction with is an electrophilic aromatic substitution. The group is activating and ortho/para-directing, while the group is deactivating and meta-directing. Both groups direct the incoming electrophile () to the position ortho to the group. Thus, compound A is 2-bromo-1-ethyl-4-nitrobenzene.
Reaction with reduces the group to an group, forming compound B (4-amino-2-bromo-1-ethylbenzene).
Reaction with at converts the group into a diazonium salt, forming compound C (3-bromo-4-ethylbenzenediazonium chloride).
Reaction with ethanol () reduces the diazonium group, replacing it with a hydrogen atom. This forms compound D (1-bromo-2-ethylbenzene).
Reaction with alkaline followed by acidic hydrolysis oxidizes the ethyl side chain () to a carboxylic acid group (). The bromine atom remains unaffected. This forms compound E (2-bromobenzoic acid).
Answer:
Reaction with is an electrophilic aromatic substitution. The group is activating and ortho/para-directing, while the group is deactivating and meta-directing. Both groups direct the incoming electrophile () to the position ortho to the group. Thus, compound A is 2-bromo-1-ethyl-4-nitrobenzene.
Reaction with reduces the group to an group, forming compound B (4-amino-2-bromo-1-ethylbenzene).
Reaction with at converts the group into a diazonium salt, forming compound C (3-bromo-4-ethylbenzenediazonium chloride).
Reaction with ethanol () reduces the diazonium group, replacing it with a hydrogen atom. This forms compound D (1-bromo-2-ethylbenzene).
Reaction with alkaline followed by acidic hydrolysis oxidizes the ethyl side chain () to a carboxylic acid group (). The bromine atom remains unaffected. This forms compound E (2-bromobenzoic acid).
Answer: