Q39 / 160 · TS EAMCET 2022 (18 Jul Shift 1) · Chemistry

The reagent that can reduce the carboxylic acid group to the corresponding alcohol is

  • A
    NaBH4/H3O+
  • Correct answer
    B
    B2H6/H3O+
  • C
    Zn-Hg/conc.HCl
  • D
    H2,Pd/C

Solution

Carboxylic acids are reduced to primary alcohols by lithium aluminium hydride or better with diborane. Diborane does not easily reduce functional groups such as ester, nitro, halo, etc.

Sodium borohydride does not reduce the carboxyl group.

The carbonyl group of aldehydes and ketones is reduced to CH2 group on treatment with zinc-amalgam and concentrated hydrochloric acid [Clemmensen reduction].It cannot reduce carboxyl groups.

H2,Pd/C also cannot reduce carboxyl group.

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

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