Complete the following reaction sequence and give the name of major product 'P'. (i) OH- / H2O/Δ (ii) H3O+ N P (Major product) (iii) Cl2/Red P (iv) H2O

The correct answer is Option 1. Full mathematical solution steps and hints are accessible in the interactive StemCET workspace.

Chemistry Q65 – JEE-MAIN 2026

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Home Chemistry Basic Organic ChemistryQuestion #121

Complete the following reaction sequence and give the name of major product 'P'.

{CH}_{3} {CH}_{2} C \equiv N \overset{\begin{matrix} {(i) OH}^{-} / H_{2} O / Δ \\ {(ii) H}_{3} O^{+} \\ {(iii) Cl}_{2} / Red P \\ {(iv) H}_{2} O \end{matrix}}{\to} P (Major product)

Clue 1 of 3: Reaction Sequence Analysis

Identify the functional group transformations occurring in each step of the reaction sequence.

🧠 Full Solution Path

Step 1: Hydrolysis of Nitrile to Carboxylic Acid✦ Active

The starting material is propanenitrile ( $C H_{3} C H_{2} C \equiv N$ ). The first two steps, (i) $O H^{-} / H_{2} O / Δ$ followed by (ii) $H_{3} O^{+}$ , represent the complete hydrolysis of a nitrile to a carboxylic acid. This converts the $- C \equiv N$ group to a $- C O O H$ group.

{CH}_{3} {CH}_{2} C \equiv N \overset{\begin{matrix} {(i) OH}^{-} / H_{2} O / Δ \\ {(ii) H}_{3} O^{+} \end{matrix}}{\to} {CH}_{3} {CH}_{2} COOH

The product after these steps is propanoic acid.

Step 2: Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky (HVZ) Reaction○ Expand

The subsequent steps, (iii) $C l_{2} / Red P$ and (iv) $H_{2} O$ , are the conditions for the Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky (HVZ) reaction. This reaction specifically halogenates the $α$ -carbon of a carboxylic acid. Propanoic acid ( $C H_{3} C H_{2} C O O H$ ) has an $α$ -carbon (the $C H_{2}$ group adjacent to the $C O O H$ group) with two $α$ -hydrogens.

{CH}_{3} {CH}_{2} COOH \overset{\begin{matrix} {(iii) Cl}_{2} / Red P \\ {(iv) H}_{2} O \end{matrix}}{\to} {CH}_{3} CHClCOOH

One of the $α$ -hydrogens is replaced by a chlorine atom. The major product 'P' is 2-chloropropanoic acid.

💡 Teacher's Secret Hint

Remember that the HVZ reaction is specific for $α$ -halogenation of carboxylic acids.

Step 3: Identify the Major Product 'P'○ Expand

Based on the reaction sequence, the final major product 'P' is 2-chloropropanoic acid. Comparing this with the given options:

1. 2-Chloropropanoic acid - Matches our derived product.

2. 3-Chloropropanoic acid - Incorrect, as HVZ is $α$ -halogenation.

3. 1-Chloropropane - Incorrect, this is an alkane derivative.

4. 2-Chloropropane - Incorrect, this is an alkane derivative.

💡 Teacher's Secret Hint

Carefully name the final product according to IUPAC nomenclature.

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Chemistry Question 65 – JEE-MAIN 2026

Clue 1 of 3: Reaction Sequence Analysis

🧠 Full Solution Path