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JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3co271

The diacid shown is heated at about 150 C until evolution stops, and the product is treated with /red P followed by water. Which structure is the final organic product?

  1. AStructure A
  2. BStructure B
  3. CStructure C
  4. DStructure D

Answer: B

The drawn compound is benzylmalonic acid. A malonic acid loses one CO2 on heating to give 3-phenylpropanoic acid; HVZ then brominates the alpha carbon (C2) of that acid, not the benzylic C3 (radical conditions needed), to give 2-bromo-3-phenylpropanoic acid.
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