The reaction of toluene with chlorine in the presence of iron and in the absence of light yields ………

Options

A.
B.
C.
D. Mixture of (b) and (c)

Explanation

To solve the question regarding the reaction of toluene with chlorine in the presence of iron and in the absence of light, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution

1. **Identify the Reactants**:
The reactants in this reaction are toluene (C₇H₈) and chlorine (Cl₂). Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon with a methyl group attached to a benzene ring.

2. **Understand the Reaction Conditions**:
The presence of iron (Fe) suggests that this reaction is likely a halogenation process. Iron acts as a catalyst, facilitating the reaction between toluene and chlorine. The absence of light indicates that we are not dealing with a free radical mechanism, which is common in photochemical reactions.

3. **Determine the Type of Reaction**:
The reaction of toluene with chlorine in the presence of a catalyst like iron typically leads to an electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) reaction. In this case, chlorine (Cl) acts as the electrophile.

4. **Identify the Position of Substitution**:
Toluene is an ortho-para directing group due to the electron-donating effect of the methyl group (–CH₃). This means that the chlorine can substitute at either the ortho position (adjacent to the methyl group) or the para position (opposite the methyl group) on the benzene ring.

5. **Draw the Possible Products**:
The substitution can occur at two positions:
- **Ortho Product**: When chlorine substitutes at the ortho position, the product is ortho-chlorotoluene.
- **Para Product**: When chlorine substitutes at the para position, the product is para-chlorotoluene.

Therefore, the products of the reaction are:
- Ortho-chlorotoluene (C₇H₇Cl)
- Para-chlorotoluene (C₇H₇Cl)

6. **Final Answer**:
The reaction of toluene with chlorine in the presence of iron and in the absence of light yields a mixture of ortho-chlorotoluene and para-chlorotoluene.