Q3 / 150 · MHT CET 2026 (18 April Shift 1) · Chemistry

Identify final products in the following sequence of reactions
$\text{RCOOH} + \text{R'OH} \xrightarrow{\large{\text{H}^+}} \text{intermediate} \xrightarrow{\large{\text{Ni}, \Delta}}^{\large{\text{H}_2}} \text{Products}$

  • A
    $\text{R'COOH} + \text{RCH}_2\text{OH}$
  • Correct answer
    B
    $\text{RCH}_2\text{OH} + \text{R'}-\text{OH}$
  • C
    $\text{R'CH}_2\text{OH} + \text{R}-\text{OH}$
  • D
    $\text{R}-\text{OH} + \text{R'}-\text{OH}$

Solution

The first step is the Fischer esterification reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst. The reaction produces an ester as the intermediate.

$\text{RCOOH} + \text{R'OH} \xrightarrow{\text{H}^+} \text{RCOOR'} + \text{H}_2\text{O}$

The intermediate formed is the ester $\text{RCOOR'}$.

The second step involves the catalytic hydrogenation (hydrogenolysis) of the ester using hydrogen gas over a nickel catalyst at high temperature. This process cleaves the ester bond, reducing the acyl group ($\text{RCO}-$) to a primary alcohol and releasing the alkoxy group ($-\text{OR'}$) as another alcohol.

$\text{RCOOR'} + 2\text{H}_2 \xrightarrow{\text{Ni}, \Delta} \text{RCH}_2\text{OH} + \text{R'OH}$

Thus, the final products are $\text{RCH}_2\text{OH}$ and $\text{R'OH}$.

Answer: $\text{RCH}_2\text{OH} + \text{R'}-\text{OH}$

Hence, the correct answer is option: 'B'.

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