Which of the following is obtained when chloral is boiled with NaOH ?

Options

A. `CH_(3)Cl`
B. `CHCl_(3)`
C. `"CCl_(4)`
D. None of these

Answer

To determine the product obtained when chloral is boiled with NaOH, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the structure of chloral
Chloral, also known as trichloroacetaldehyde, has the chemical formula Cl3CCHO. It consists of a carbon atom bonded to three chlorine atoms and a formyl group (–CHO).

### Step 2: Understand the reaction with NaOH
When chloral is boiled with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), it undergoes a reaction where the hydroxide ion (OH⁻) acts as a nucleophile. The oxygen atom in the hydroxide ion has a lone pair of electrons, which can attack the electrophilic carbon in the carbonyl group of chloral.

### Step 3: Nucleophilic attack
The nucleophilic attack leads to the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate. The carbonyl carbon becomes negatively charged as the oxygen atom of the hydroxide ion forms a bond with it. This results in the formation of a chlorinated alkoxide intermediate.

### Step 4: Proton transfer and elimination
The negatively charged oxygen can then undergo proton transfer, and the intermediate can lose a chloride ion (Cl⁻) to form chloroform (CHCl₃) and sodium formate (HCOONa).

### Step 5: Final products
The final products of the reaction when chloral is boiled with NaOH are chloroform (CHCl₃) and sodium formate (HCOONa). However, since the question specifically asks for the product obtained, the main product we focus on is chloroform.

### Conclusion
Thus, the product obtained when chloral is boiled with NaOH is **chloroform (CHCl₃)**.

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