An organic compound 'A' on oxidation with pyridinium chlorochromate forms an aldehyde having the molecular formula C ₂ H ₄ O . What is compound 'A'?

Step-by-step solution

The aldehyde with the molecular formula C ₂ H ₄ O is ethanal ( CH ₃ CHO ). Pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) is a mild oxidizing agent that selectively oxidizes primary alcohols to aldehydes without further oxidation to carboxylic acids. Since the product is a two-carbon aldehyde (ethanal), the reactant 'A' must be a two-carbon primary alcohol. Therefore, compound 'A' is ethanol ( CH ₃ CH ₂ OH ). The reaction is: CH ₃ CH ₂ OH PCC CH ₃ CHO Answer: Ethanol