See image — GOC and Organic Chemistry Basics Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

# Solution: Phenol + CHCl₃ + KOH Reaction **Step 1: Identify the reaction type** This is the **Reimer-Tiemann reaction**, a classic electrophilic aromatic substitution where phenol reacts with chloroform under basic conditions. **Step 2: Reaction mechanism** - $CHCl_3 + KOH \rightarrow$ **dichlorocarbene** ($:CCl_2$) + $KCl$ + $H_2O$ - The dichlorocarbene attacks the electron-rich ortho/para positions of phenol's aromatic ring - This forms an intermediate cyclopropene that rearranges - Hydrolysis occurs to yield the final aldehyde product **Step 3: Product formed** The major product is **o-hydroxybenzaldehyde** (salicylaldehyde), where the aldehyde group ($-CHO$) is attached to the benzene ring at the **ortho position** relative to the existing hydroxyl group. **Step 4: Why option C is correct** - **(A) is CORRECT** — This IS the Reimer-Tiemann reaction ✓ - **(B) is CORRECT** — Dichlorocarbene IS the reactive intermediate ✓ - **(C) is CORRECT** — The final product IS **o-hydroxybenzaldehyde** ✓ - **(D) is INCORRECT** — The product is NOT benzyl chloride; an aldehyde forms, not a chloromethyl group ✗ **The answer is (D) as the incorrect statement**, since the final product is definitely **not** benzyl chloride but rather **o-hydroxybenzaldehyde** with a formyl group.