Question

The product obtained, when acetophcnone is treated with zinc-amalgum in cone. $HCl,$ is:

• A. benzaldehyde
• B. benzyl alcohol
• C. ethyl benzene
• D. cinnamic acid

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

ethyl benzene

Answer 2

Zinc amalgum/conc. HCl is an important reducing agent. Its reducing reaction is called Clemmensons reduction. It reduces keto group $\left( \text{ }\,C==O \right)$ into methylene group $\left( \text{ }\,C{{H}_{2}} \right)$ . Hence, acetophenone gives ethyl benzene on treating with Zn-Hg/cone. $HCl$ .