Toluene is converted to Benzaldehyde on treating with chromi... | Chemistry - Named Reactions in Organic Chemistry | SolveeIt | Solveeit

Today, November 12

Question

Toluene is converted to Benzaldehyde on treating with chromic oxide in acetic anhydride. The intermediate formed in this reaction is

Visual representation for Chemistry

A

Benzalchloride

B

Chromyl chloride

C

Benzylidene diacetate

D

Chromium complex CH(OCROHCl $_2$ ) $_2$

Answer

Chromium complex CH(OCROHCl $_2$ ) $_2$

Explanation

Solution

This reaction is the Étard reaction. Toluene reacts with chromyl chloride (formed in situ from $CrO_3$ and acetic anhydride) to form a chromium complex intermediate, which upon hydrolysis yields benzaldehyde. The intermediate is $C_6H_5CH(OCrOHCl_2)_2$ .