Question

In the reaction, $$\mathrm{C}{\phantom{A}}_6\mathrm{H}{\phantom{A}}_5\mathrm{COCH}{\phantom{A}}_3\underset{\mathrm{Zn}-\mathrm{Hg}/\mathrm{conc}\cdot \mathrm{HCl}}{\overset{\text{[H]}}{\to }}\mathrm{X}$$, X is ______.

Options

• toluene

• methyl benzene

• benzylalcohol

• ethyl benzene

Answer 1

In the reaction, $$\mathrm{C}{\phantom{A}}_6\mathrm{H}{\phantom{A}}_5\mathrm{COCH}{\phantom{A}}_3\underset{\mathrm{Zn}-\mathrm{Hg}/\mathrm{conc}\cdot \mathrm{HCl}}{\overset{\text{[H]}}{\to }}\mathrm{X}$$, X is ethyl benzene.

Explanation:

$$\underset{\text{Acetophenone}}{\mathrm{C}{\phantom{A}}_6\mathrm{H}{\phantom{A}}_5\mathrm{COCH}{\phantom{A}}_3}\underset{\mathrm{Zn}-\mathrm{Hg}/\mathrm{conc}\cdot \mathrm{HCl}}{\overset{4\text{[H]}}{\to }}\underset{\text{Ethyl benzene}}{\mathrm{C}{\phantom{A}}_6\mathrm{H}{\phantom{A}}_5\mathrm{CH}{\phantom{A}}_2\mathrm{CH}{\phantom{A}}_3}$$

The above reaction is known as Clemmensen reduction.