Given below are two statements :
Statement I : Phenol on treatment with /aq. KOH under refluxing condition, followed by acidification produces p-hydroxy benzladehyde as the major product and o-hydroxy benzaldehyde as the minor product.
Statement II : The mixture of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and o-hydroxybenzaldehyde can be easily separated through steam distillation.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below :
- A
Both Statement I and Statement II are false
- B
Statement I is true but Statement II is false
- C
Both Statement I and Statement II are true
- D
Statement I is false but Statement II is true
This is the Reimer–Tiemann reaction. The major product is the ortho-isomer, salicylaldehyde, with p-hydroxybenzaldehyde forming as the minor product — opposite to what Statement I claims. So Statement I is false.
The ortho isomer is intramolecularly H-bonded and is steam volatile, while the para isomer has stronger intermolecular hydrogen bonding and is not steam volatile. So the two can be cleanly separated by steam distillation. Statement II is true.
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