MCQMediumJEE 2025Diazonium Salts & Reactions

JEE Chemistry 2025 Question with Solution

The products formed in the following reaction sequence are:

Reaction sequence starting from nitro-substituted bromobenzene treated with Br2, AcOH; then Sn, HCl; then NaNO2, HCl at 273 K; then C2H5OH to give A + B.
  • A
    Option showing two products: bromophenol and bromoethoxybenzene as aromatic substitution products.
  • B
    Option showing two products: bromoethoxybenzene and acetic acid.
  • C
    Option showing two products: bromobenzene and acetaldehyde as the products of the sequence.
  • D
    Option showing two products: bromophenol and acetaldehyde as the products of the sequence.

Answer

Correct answer:C

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: A substituted aromatic nitro compound is subjected to Sn/HCl, then NaNO2, HCl, 273 K, and finally C2H5OH. Find: The products A and B.

From the solution, the key idea is that the nitro group is first reduced to an amine, and the amine then undergoes diazotization. The solution explicitly states that the correct option is C.

The reaction path is:

  1. Sn/HCl reduces the nitro group to an aromatic amine.
  2. NaNO2/HCl at 273 K converts the amine into the corresponding diazonium salt.
  3. Treatment with ethanol reduces the diazonium group, replacing it by hydrogen, while ethanol is oxidized to acetaldehyde.

Therefore, the final organic product is bromobenzene, and the accompanying oxidation product is acetaldehyde.

The correct option is C.

Reaction Sequence Interpretation

Given: The sequence involves reduction of a nitro compound, diazotization, and reaction with ethanol. Find: Which option matches the final products.

Identify principle:

  • Nitro compounds on an aromatic ring are reduced by Sn/HCl to amines.
  • Aromatic amines on treatment with NaNO2/HCl at 273 K form diazonium salts.
  • Diazonium salts with ethanol undergo replacement of the diazonium group by hydrogen.

Apply transformation logic:

  • Nitro-substituted aryl bromide  aryl amine
  • Aryl amine  aryl diazonium salt
  • Aryl diazonium salt  aryl bromide framework with the diazonium position replaced by hydrogen
  • Ethanol is converted to CH3CHO during this process

Verify with options:

  • the solution states Product 3: Correct.
  • Hence the matching pair is bromobenzene and CH3CHO.

Therefore, the correct option is C.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming Sn/HCl directly removes the nitro group is incorrect. It first reduces NO2 to an amine. After that, diazotization must be considered before predicting the final product.

  • Forgetting the role of NaNO2/HCl at 273 K leads to a wrong intermediate. These conditions form an aromatic diazonium salt, not a phenol or aldehyde directly.

  • Confusing the reaction of diazonium salt with ethanol is a common error. Ethanol replaces the diazonium group by hydrogen and is itself oxidized, so the side product is CH3CHO.

Practice more Diazonium Salts & Reactions questions

Get unlimited AI-adaptive practice, mastery tracking, and an AI tutor that explains every step — free to start.

Related questions