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JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3o1128

Acetaldehyde reacts with and a trace of using only achiral reagents and solvent. The product mixture is

  1. Aonly the (R)-enantiomer
  2. Ban optically inactive racemic mixture of the two cyanohydrin enantiomers
  3. Conly the (S)-enantiomer
  4. Da single meso compound

Answer: B

The carbonyl carbon is planar, so attacks equally from both faces. The new stereocentre in is formed as a 1:1 mixture of (R) and (S), a racemate with no optical activity. A meso compound needs two stereocentres.
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