Q20 / 180 · COMEDK 2023 (Evening Shift) · Chemistry
Identify the compounds A, B, C and D.
$
\text { 1,2,2,2-tetrachloroethane } \xrightarrow[\Delta]{\mathrm{Zn}}[\mathrm{A}]
$
[A] $
\xrightarrow[675 \mathrm{~K}]{\text { Fe tube }}
$ [B] $
\xrightarrow[\text { Conc. } \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{SO}_4]{\text { Conc. } \mathrm{HNO}_3}
$ [C] $
\xrightarrow[\text { Anhydrous } \mathrm{AlCl}_3]{\mathrm{Cl} /}$ [D]
- A

- B

- C

- Correct answerD

Solution
The reaction sequence is as follows:
1. Dehalogenation of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane with Zn dust:
CHCl$_{2}$-CHCl$_{2}$ + 2Zn $\rightarrow$ CH$\equiv$CH + 2ZnCl$_{2}$. Thus, [A] is C$_{2}$H$_{2}$ (acetylene).
2. Cyclic polymerization of acetylene:
3C$_{2}$H$_{2}$ $\xrightarrow[675 \text{ K}]{\text{Fe tube}}$ C$_{6}$H$_{6}$ (benzene). Thus, [B] is benzene.
3. Nitration of benzene:
C$_{6}$H$_{6}$ + HNO$_{3}$ (conc.) $\xrightarrow{\text{H}_{2}\text{SO}_{4} \text{ (conc.)}}$ C$_{6}$H$_{5}$NO$_{2}$ (nitrobenzene). Thus, [C] is nitrobenzene.
4. Chlorination of nitrobenzene:
Nitrobenzene is a meta-directing group due to the strong electron-withdrawing effect of the -NO$_{2}$ group. Therefore, electrophilic substitution (chlorination) occurs at the meta position.
C$_{6}$H$_{5}$NO$_{2}$ + Cl$_{2}$ $\xrightarrow{\text{Anhydrous AlCl}_{3}}$ m-chloronitrobenzene. Thus, [D] is m-chloronitrobenzene.
Comparing these results with the provided options, the sequence corresponds to the fourth set of images.
Answer:
1. Dehalogenation of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane with Zn dust:
CHCl$_{2}$-CHCl$_{2}$ + 2Zn $\rightarrow$ CH$\equiv$CH + 2ZnCl$_{2}$. Thus, [A] is C$_{2}$H$_{2}$ (acetylene).
2. Cyclic polymerization of acetylene:
3C$_{2}$H$_{2}$ $\xrightarrow[675 \text{ K}]{\text{Fe tube}}$ C$_{6}$H$_{6}$ (benzene). Thus, [B] is benzene.
3. Nitration of benzene:
C$_{6}$H$_{6}$ + HNO$_{3}$ (conc.) $\xrightarrow{\text{H}_{2}\text{SO}_{4} \text{ (conc.)}}$ C$_{6}$H$_{5}$NO$_{2}$ (nitrobenzene). Thus, [C] is nitrobenzene.
4. Chlorination of nitrobenzene:
Nitrobenzene is a meta-directing group due to the strong electron-withdrawing effect of the -NO$_{2}$ group. Therefore, electrophilic substitution (chlorination) occurs at the meta position.
C$_{6}$H$_{5}$NO$_{2}$ + Cl$_{2}$ $\xrightarrow{\text{Anhydrous AlCl}_{3}}$ m-chloronitrobenzene. Thus, [D] is m-chloronitrobenzene.
Comparing these results with the provided options, the sequence corresponds to the fourth set of images.
Answer:

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