Question

An aromatic compound ‘A’ on treatment with aqueous ammonia and heating forms compound ‘B’ which on heating with Br₂ and KOH forms a compound ‘C’ of molecular formula C₆H₇N. Write the structures and IUPAC names of compounds A, B and C.

Answer 1

It is given that compound ‘C’ having the molecular formula, C₆H₇N is formed by heating
compound ‘B’ with Br₂ and KOH. This is a Hoffmann bromamide degradation reaction.
Therefore, compound ‘B’ is an amide and compound ‘C’ is an amine. The only amine having the molecular formula, C₆H₇N is aniline, (C₆H₅NH₂).

Therefore, compound ‘B’ (from which ’C’ is formed) must be benzamide, (C₆H₅CONH₂).

Further, benzamide is formed by heating compound ‘A’ with aqueous ammonia. Therefore, compound ‘A’ must be benzoic acid.

The given reactions can be explained with the help of the following equations: