The most reactive compound towards formation of cyanohydrin on treatment with KCN followed by acidification is

Options

A. Benzaldehyde
B. p-nitrobenzaldehyde
C. Phenyl acetaldehyde
D. p-hydroxybenzaldehyde

Answer

B

Explanation

Due to electron withdrawing nature of `NO_2` group, the partial +ve charge on the carbon atom of the `gt` C = O group in p-nitrobenzaldehyde increases and hence becomes more susceptible to nucleophilic attack by `CN^(–)` ion.