Question

In the reaction of phenol with $CHC{l}_3$ and aqueous $NaOH$, the electrophile attacking the ring is :

• A. $CHC{l}_3$
• B. $CHC{l}_2$
• C. $:CC{l}_2$
• D. $COC{l}_2$

Answer 1

The correct option is C $:CC{l}_2$

When phenol gets converted to salicylaldehyde in the presence of $CHC{l}_3+Aq.NaOH$ followed by hydrolysis, the reaction is known as Reimer-Tiemann reaction. It is an electrophilic substitution reaction, reaction intermediate dichloro carbene is formed and acts as an electrophile. Hence, the correct answer is option (c).