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JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3co212

Propanoic acid is heated with one equivalent of and red phosphorus, then treated with ; the product is warmed with excess aqueous and the solution is then acidified. The final organic product is

  1. A2-bromopropanoic acid
  2. B2-hydroxypropanoic acid
  3. Cprop-2-enoic acid
  4. D3-hydroxypropanoic acid

Answer: B

The HVZ reaction replaces one alpha hydrogen of by bromine, giving 2-bromopropanoic acid. Aqueous KOH substitutes the bromine by hydroxyl (nucleophilic substitution at the alpha carbon) and neutralises the acid; acidification then gives 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, .
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