JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3nc193
In the carbylamine reaction of a primary amine with CHClX3 and ethanolic KOH, the reactive electrophilic species generated from chloroform is
Atrichloromethyl cation
Btrichloromethyl free radical
Cchlorine atom
Ddichlorocarbene
Answer: D
Chloroform loses HCl with base to give dichlorocarbene (a carbene with a vacant orbital). The amine nitrogen attacks it, and two further eliminations of HCl give the isocyanide R-NC.