Complete reaction of acetaldehyde with excess formaldehyde, upon heating with conc. NaOH solution, gives P and Q. Compound P does not give Tollens’ test, whereas Q on acidification gives positive Tollens’ test. Treatment of P with excess cyclohexanone in the presence of catalytic amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) gives product R. Sum of the number of methylene groups (-CH2-) and oxygen atoms in R is .
Answer
18
Solution
Three crossed aldol additions (HCHO has no α-H, acetaldehyde gives all three α-H):
[figure] 3HCHO, OH- [figure]
Crossed Cannizzaro with HCHO (HCHO is oxidised, the other aldehyde reduced):
[figure] HCHO, conc. NaOH, [figure] (P) + HCOONa (Q)
P has no CHO – no Tollens’ test; Q on acidification gives HCOOH, which gives Tollens’ test.
Each 1,3-diol pair of P forms a 1,3-dioxane ketal with one cyclohexanone:
[figure] [PTSA, -2H2O]excess cyclohexanone [figure] (R)
-CH2- groups: 4 (from P) + 2 × 5 (two cyclohexane rings) = 14; O atoms = 4.
Sum = 14 + 4 = 18
Answer: 18