MHT CET Chemistry Question (2026) — Solution

Step-by-step solution

The given reaction sequence is a variant of the Reimer-Tiemann reaction. Step 1: Phenol reacts with carbon tetrachloride (CCl_4) in the presence of aqueous NaOH. The phenoxide ion undergoes electrophilic aromatic substitution to form an intermediate with a -CCl_3 group at the ortho position. This intermediate is 2-(trichloromethyl)phenoxide (A). Step 2: The intermediate A undergoes alkaline hydrolysis with NaOH. The three chlorine atoms are replaced by hydroxyl groups, forming an unstable intermediate that loses a water molecule to form a carboxylate group. This results in the formation of sodium salicylate (B). Step 3: Acidification of sodium salicylate (B) with H_3O^+ protonates the carboxylate and phenoxide ions, yielding salicylic acid (2-hydroxybenzoic acid) as the final product C. Therefore, the final product C is salicylic acid, which has a benzene ring with -OH and -COOH groups at ortho positions. Answer: