Question

Identify A in the following chemical reaction.

(iii) \( HI , \Delta \)

• A.
• B.
• C.
• D.

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Aldehydes which does not have $\alpha$-Hydrogen undergoes cannizzaro reaction.
In crossed cannizzaro reaction, aldehyde which has less steric and highly positive carbonyl carbon undergoes oxidation and other will undergo reduction.
In second step, the alcohol group gets depronated by $H^{-}$ from NaH and followed by $S_{N}2$ reaction to form ether compound.

In final step, ether on reaction with HI undergoes $S_{N}2$ or $S_{N}1$ reaction depends on the nature substrate.
Benzylic cation is highly stable so it undergoes $S_{N}1$ to form the major product.
Also, at another position, ether cleavage occurs by $S_{N}2$ reaction since, phenyl cation is unstable.

Hence, option (a) is correct.