See image — Aromatic Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Concept: Reaction of a disulfide (R-S-S-R) with chlorine (Cl2). Step 1: Identify the starting material. The starting material is di-(2-nitrobenzyl) disulfide, i.e., two 2-nitrobenzyl groups connected by a disulfide (S-S) bond: (2-NO2-C6H4-CH2-S-)2. Step 2: Reaction of disulfides with Cl2. When a disulfide R-S-S-R reacts with Cl2, the S-S bond is cleaved homolytically/heterolytically by the electrophilic chlorine, and each sulfur picks up one chlorine atom. The reaction is: R-S-S-R + Cl2 → 2 R-S-Cl This is a well-known cleavage of disulfide bonds by halogens to give sulfenyl chlorides. Step 3: Apply to the given substrate. (2-NO2-C6H4-CH2-S-)2 + Cl2 → 2 (2-NO2-C6H4-CH2-S-Cl) The product is 2-nitrobenzyl sulfenyl chloride, which corresponds to option (b): a benzene ring bearing a CH2-S-Cl group and a NO2 group in the ortho position. Step 4: Elimination of other options. (a) 2-nitrobenzyl thiol (CH2SH) would be the product of reduction, not reaction with Cl2. (c) 2,4-dinitrophenyl thiol involves loss of the CH2 group and introduction of an extra NO2, which does not correspond to this reaction. (d) 1,3-dinitrobenzene involves complete loss of sulfur and rearrangement of nitro groups, which is not consistent with this reaction. Therefore, the correct answer is B.