**68.** The products formed in the following reaction sequence are: Starting compound: \( \ce{C6H4NO2CH3} \) (p-nitrotoluene) **Reagents:** 1. \( \ce{Br2}, \) AcOH 2. \( \ce{Sn, HCl} \) 3. \( \ce{NaNO2, HCl, 273K} \) 4. \( \ce{C2H5OH} \) \[ \ce{C6H4NO2CH3 ->[i-iv] A + B} \] **Options:** (1) A: \( \ce{C6H3Br(OH)CH3} \) B: \( \ce{C6H3Br(OEt)CH3} \) (2) A: \( \ce{C6H3Br(OEt)CH3} \) B: \( \ce{CH3COOH} \) (3) A: \( \ce{C6H4BrCH3} \) B: \( \ce{CH3CHO} \) (4) A: \( \ce{C6H3Br(OH)CH3} \) B: \( \ce{CH3CHO} \)

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Published July 8, 2025
Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Aromatic Compounds
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution
Reduction Reactions
Diazotization
Nucleophilic Substitution on Diazonium Salts

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Detailed Explanation

Step-by-Step Conceptual Walk-Through

StageKey ConceptWhat to RememberWhy it Happens
1. Bromination (Br2Br_2, AcOH)Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS)CH3CH_3 is ortho/para directing and activates the ring. NO2NO_2 is meta directing but deactivates.Position 2 (or 6) is favoured because it is ortho to CH3CH_3 (activating) and meta to NO2NO_2 (so less deactivation). Ring is symmetric, so only one brominated isomer forms.
2. Reduction (Sn/HCl)Metal-acid reduction of NO2โ†’NH2NO_2\rightarrow NH_2SnSn provides electrons; HClHCl supplies H+H^+.NH2NH_2 is strongly activating, setting up for diazotisation.
3. Diazotisation (NaNO2NaNO_2, HClHCl, 0 ยฐC)Formation of Aryl Diazonium SaltArNH2+HNO2โ†’ArN2+Clโˆ’+2H2OArNH_2 + HNO_2 \rightarrow ArN_2^+Cl^- + 2H_2OThe diazonium group is an excellent leaving group, so it can be replaced by other nucleophiles.
4. Treatment with Ethanol (C2H5OHC_2H_5OH)Hydrolysis/Reductive SubstitutionIn neutral or slightly acidic alcohol, water (from step 3) or alcohol itself acts as nucleophile. The usual outcome is phenol formation; the alcohol is oxidised to CH3CHOCH_3CHO.ArN2+ArN_2^+ is a mild oxidising agent; it accepts two electrons while ethanol loses two electrons (gets oxidised).

Thus, the aryl diazonium becomes brominated p-cresol (2-bromo-4-methylphenol) and ethanol becomes acetaldehyde.

Simple Explanation (ELI5)

What is happening here?

  1. Put a new sticker (Br) on the ring โ€“ the ring already has two stickers (a methyl CH3CH_3 and a nitro NO2NO_2). The bromine likes to sit next to the CH3CH_3 sticker.
  2. Turn the angry red sticker (NO2NO_2) into a friendly blue one (NH2NH_2) โ€“ tin (SnSn) and acid do that.
  3. Change the blue sticker into a magic ticket (N2+N_2^+) that can pop off โ€“ that is what NaNO2NaNO_2 and HClHCl at cold temperature do (diazotisation).
  4. Let the ticket pop off inside alcohol (ethanol) โ€“ when it pops, an OHOH group takes its place on the ring, and the alcohol gets a little bit oxidised to apple-smelling acetaldehyde (CH3CHOCH_3CHO).

So you get one main ring product (with Br, CH3CH_3, and OHOH) and one small side product (acetaldehyde).

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Step-by-Step Solution

Detailed Solution

  1. Bromination
    p-CH3โ€“C6H4NO2โ†’AcOHBr22-bromo-4-nitrotoluene\text{p-}CH_3\text{โ€“}C_6H_4NO_2 \xrightarrow[AcOH]{Br_2} 2\text{-bromo-}4\text{-nitrotoluene} Bromine enters position 2 (or 6, identical) giving \ceC6H3Br(NO2)CH3\ce{C_6H_3Br(NO_2)CH_3}.

  2. Reduction of NO2NO_2 to NH2NH_2
    \ceC6H3Br(NO2)CH3โ†’HClSn\ceC6H3Br(NH2)CH3\ce{C_6H_3Br(NO_2)CH_3} \xrightarrow[HCl]{Sn} \ce{C_6H_3Br(NH_2)CH_3}

  3. Diazotisation
    \ceC6H3Br(NH2)CH3+\ceNaNO2+2\ceHClโ†’0โ€‰โˆ˜C\ceC6H3Br(N2+Clโˆ’)CH3+2\ceH2O\ce{C_6H_3Br(NH_2)CH_3} + \ce{NaNO_2} + 2\ce{HCl} \xrightarrow{0\,^\circ C} \ce{C_6H_3Br(N_2^+Cl^-)CH_3} + 2\ce{H_2O}

  4. Reaction with Ethanol
    The aryl diazonium oxidises ethanol, itself being converted to phenol: \ceC6H3Br(N2+Clโˆ’)CH3+\ceC2H5OHโŸถ\ceC6H3Br(OH)CH3+\ceCH3CHO+N2+HCl\ce{C_6H_3Br(N_2^+Cl^-)CH_3} + \ce{C_2H_5OH} \longrightarrow \ce{C_6H_3Br(OH)CH_3} + \ce{CH_3CHO} + N_2 + HCl

  5. Final Products
    A=\ceC6H3Br(OH)CH3(2-bromo-4-methylphenol)A = \ce{C_6H_3Br(OH)CH_3} \quad (\text{2-bromo-4-methylphenol}) B=\ceCH3CHO(acetaldehyde)B = \ce{CH_3CHO} \quad (\text{acetaldehyde})

Correct option: (4)

Examples

Example 1

Synthesis of aspirin dyes via diazotisation and coupling reactions

Example 2

Manufacture of paracetamol starting from p-nitrophenol that requires nitro reduction then acylation

Example 3

Use of ethanol as a reducing agent in Tollens test giving silver mirror while ethanol oxidises to acetaldehyde

Visual Representation

References

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