JEE Challenger
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Identification of Compound J and Reagent K in Synthesis

Comprehension Passage

Paragraph for Question Nos. 61 to 63

In the following reaction sequence, products I\mathbf{I}, J\mathbf{J} and L\mathbf{L} are formed. K\mathbf{K} represents a reagent.

Passage Diagram 0

The structures of compounds J\mathbf{J} and K\mathbf{K}, respectively, are

Options

A

and SOCl2\text{SOCl}_2

Option A Diagram 1
Correct
B

and SO2Cl2\text{SO}_2\text{Cl}_2

Option B Diagram 1
C

and SOCl2\text{SOCl}_2

Option C Diagram 1
D

and CH3SO2Cl\text{CH}_3\text{SO}_2\text{Cl}

Option D Diagram 1

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine the structures of compound J\mathbf{J} and reagent K\mathbf{K}, let us follow the reaction sequence step by step:

  1. Formation of Compound I\mathbf{I}:

    • The starting material is hex-3-ynal:
      CH3−CH2−C≡C−CH2−CHO\text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{C}\equiv\text{C}-\text{CH}_2-\text{CHO}
    • Step 1: Reduction with NaBH4\text{NaBH}_4 selectively reduces the aldehyde group to a primary alcohol while leaving the internal carbon-carbon triple bond intact:
      CH3−CH2−C≡C−CH2−CHO→NaBH4CH3−CH2−C≡C−CH2−CH2OH\text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{C}\equiv\text{C}-\text{CH}_2-\text{CHO} \xrightarrow{\text{NaBH}_4} \text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{C}\equiv\text{C}-\text{CH}_2-\text{CH}_2\text{OH}
    • Step 2: Treatment with PBr3\text{PBr}_3 converts the alcohol into an alkyl bromide:
      CH3−CH2−C≡C−CH2−CH2OH→PBr3CH3−CH2−C≡C−CH2−CH2Br(I)\text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{C}\equiv\text{C}-\text{CH}_2-\text{CH}_2\text{OH} \xrightarrow{\text{PBr}_3} \text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{C}\equiv\text{C}-\text{CH}_2-\text{CH}_2\text{Br} \quad (\mathbf{I})
  2. Formation of Compound J\mathbf{J}:

    • Step 1: Reaction of compound I\mathbf{I} with magnesium in dry ether forms the corresponding Grignard reagent:
      CH3−CH2−C≡C−CH2−CH2Br→Mg/etherCH3−CH2−C≡C−CH2−CH2MgBr\text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{C}\equiv\text{C}-\text{CH}_2-\text{CH}_2\text{Br} \xrightarrow{\text{Mg/ether}} \text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{C}\equiv\text{C}-\text{CH}_2-\text{CH}_2\text{MgBr}
    • Step 2 & 3: Carboxylation with solid carbon dioxide (CO2\text{CO}_2) followed by acidic workup (H3O+\text{H}_3\text{O}^+) yields the carboxylic acid (hept-4-ynoic acid):
      CH3−CH2−C≡C−CH2−CH2MgBr→2.  H3O+1.  CO2CH3−CH2−C≡C−CH2−CH2−COOH(J)\text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{C}\equiv\text{C}-\text{CH}_2-\text{CH}_2\text{MgBr} \xrightarrow[2.\;\text{H}_3\text{O}^+]{1.\;\text{CO}_2} \text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{C}\equiv\text{C}-\text{CH}_2-\text{CH}_2-\text{COOH} \quad (\mathbf{J})
  3. Identification of Reagent K\mathbf{K}:

    • In the next transformation, the carboxylic acid J\mathbf{J} is converted into the corresponding acyl chloride:
      CH3−CH2−C≡C−CH2−CH2−COOH→KCH3−CH2−C≡C−CH2−CH2−COCl\text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{C}\equiv\text{C}-\text{CH}_2-\text{CH}_2-\text{COOH} \xrightarrow{\mathbf{K}} \text{CH}_3-\text{CH}_2-\text{C}\equiv\text{C}-\text{CH}_2-\text{CH}_2-\text{COCl}
    • The standard reagent used to convert a carboxylic acid into an acyl chloride is thionyl chloride (SOCl2\text{SOCl}_2). Hence:
      K=SOCl2\mathbf{K} = \text{SOCl}_2

Thus, compound J\mathbf{J} is the alkyne-containing carboxylic acid Me−CH2−C≡C−CH2−CH2−COOH\text{Me}-\text{CH}_2-\text{C}\equiv\text{C}-\text{CH}_2-\text{CH}_2-\text{COOH} and reagent K\mathbf{K} is SOCl2\text{SOCl}_2.

Correct Answer: (A)