Q40 / 150 · MHT CET 2026 (15 April Shift 2) · Chemistry

Identify the name of reaction when phenol reacts with chloroform in aqueous NaOH.

  • A
    Kolbe's reaction
  • Correct answer
    B
    Reimer-Tiemann reaction
  • C
    Williamson synthesis
  • D
    Friedel-Crafts acylation

Solution

When phenol is treated with chloroform ($CHCl_3$) in the presence of aqueous sodium hydroxide ($NaOH$), an aldehyde group ($-CHO$) is introduced at the ortho position of the benzene ring. This reaction results in the formation of salicylaldehyde (2-hydroxybenzaldehyde) as the major product.

This electrophilic substitution reaction, which proceeds via a dichlorocarbene ($:CCl_2$) intermediate, is known as the Reimer-Tiemann reaction.

Answer: Reimer-Tiemann reaction

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

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