MHT CET202618 April 2026Morning ShiftChemistryCarboxylic Acid DerivativesActual
Identify final products in the following sequence of reactions RCOOH + R'OH H ^+ intermediate Ni , ^ H ₂ Products
Options
- AR'COOH + RCH ₂ OH
- BRCH ₂ OH + R' - OH
- CR'CH ₂ OH + R - OH
- DR - OH + R' - OH
Correct answer
B. RCH ₂ OH + R' - OH
Step-by-step solution
The first step is the Fischer esterification reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst. The reaction produces an ester as the intermediate. RCOOH + R'OH H ^+ RCOOR' + H ₂ O The intermediate formed is the ester RCOOR' . The second step involves the catalytic hydrogenation (hydrogenolysis) of the ester using hydrogen gas over a nickel catalyst at high temperature. This process cleaves the ester bond, reducing the acyl group ( RCO - ) to a primary alcohol and releasing the a