Consider the following reaction sequence: 4-Nitroaniline [ (ii) Cu ₂ Cl ₂] (i) NaNO ₂ , HCl, 273-278 K (X) [ (ii) H ^+] (i) NaOH (aq), 433 K (Y) The major product (Y) is:

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: 4-Nitroaniline is diazotized with NaNO ₂ and HCl at 273-278 K to form 4-nitrobenzenediazonium chloride. This intermediate undergoes the Sandmeyer reaction with Cu ₂ Cl ₂ to yield 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene (X). Step 2: The presence of the strongly electron-withdrawing - NO ₂ group at the para position activates the benzene ring towards nucleophilic aromatic substitution. Consequently, the replacement of the chloride ion by a hydroxide ion occurs at a much lower temperature ( 433 K ) compared to the standard Do