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Organic conversion

Phenol to salicylaldehyde

1 step: Reimer-Tiemann reaction

Class 12, Chapter 7 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers

  1. HO
    PhenolC₆H₅OHPhenol
  2. Step 1

    (i) CHCl₃, aq. NaOH, 340 K (ii) H⁺

    Reimer-Tiemann reaction
    i

    Reimer-Tiemann reaction puts a CHO group ortho to the OH through dichlorocarbene.

    OOHH
    Salicylaldehydeo-HOC₆H₄CHOAldehyde

Exam answer

  1. Step 1: Phenol to salicylaldehyde: (i) CHCl₃, aq. NaOH, 340 K (ii) H⁺.
Why these reagents

Reagent and reason, step by step

  • Step 1: Phenol to salicylaldehyde: (i) CHCl₃, aq. NaOH, 340 K (ii) H⁺ Reimer-Tiemann reaction puts a CHO group ortho to the OH through dichlorocarbene.
Questions

Phenol to salicylaldehyde: quick answers

How many steps does it take to convert phenol to salicylaldehyde?

1 step: Phenol, then salicylaldehyde.

Which named reaction is used to convert phenol to salicylaldehyde?

Reimer-Tiemann reaction. Phenol reacts with chloroform in aqueous NaOH at 340 K, and hydrolysis of the product gives salicylaldehyde.

What is the reagent for step 1 of phenol to salicylaldehyde?

Phenol to salicylaldehyde: (i) CHCl₃, aq. NaOH, 340 K (ii) H⁺. Reimer-Tiemann reaction puts a CHO group ortho to the OH through dichlorocarbene.

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