Question
Question: In the following sequence of reactions, what is D? , the oxidation of toluene as follows,
The methyl group in the toluene is oxidized by the use of potassium permanganate. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is used in the above oxidation to provide alkaline medium, because potassium permanganate have Mn+7, which is stable in alkaline medium. Then hydrolysis is carried out to give A(benzoic acid).
(A)
A→B as follows,
In the above reaction first nucleophile is attack on the thionyl chloride(SOCl2), the hydroxyl group is converted to a chlorosulfite intermediate, its make a better leaving group and while the chlorine ion act as a nucleophile and lastly deprotonation to B(give benzoyl chloride).
B→C→D Sequence as follows,
Benzoyl chloride (B) reacts with sodium azide(NaN3)to give azido(phenyl)methanone (C).
C is heated to give D (phenyl isocyanate).
The reaction sequence is as follows,
So, the correct answer is Option C.
Note: Sequence B→C→D in the above reaction is known as Curtius rearrangement or Curtius degradation, which is a thermal decomposition of acyl azide to give isocyanate with the liberation of nitrogen. The reaction mechanism describes the sequence of elementary reactions that has got to occur from the reactants to products. Reaction intermediates are formed in one stop then consumed during a later step of the reaction mechanism.