The structure of intermediate A in the following reaction, is : [Reaction: cumene (isopropylbenzene) xrightarrowO₂ A xrightarrow[H₂O]H^+ phenol + acetone] 1. (1) phenyl isopropyl ether: C6H5-O-CH(CH3)2 2. (2) cumene hydroperoxide: C6H5-C(CH3)2-O-O-H 3. (3) C6H5-O-O-CH(CH3)2 4. (4) C6H5-CH(CH3)-CH2-O-O-H

Answer: 2. (2) cumene hydroperoxide: C6H5-C(CH3)2-O-O-H In the cumene process, cumene is oxidised by air at the benzylic tertiary C-H bond to form a hydroperoxide. C₆H₅CH(CH₃)₂ + O₂ → C₆H₅C(CH₃)₂-O-O-H (cumene hydroperoxide, A). Acid hydrolysis of A gives phenol and acetone. The other structures are an ether, a peroxide with the wrong connectivity, and a primary hydroperoxide; none arises from radical oxidation at the tertiary benzylic carbon. Answer: option (2).

Topic: Phenols: acidity, electrophilic substitution, Reimer-Tiemann· Organic Compounds Containing Oxygen

The structure of intermediate A in the following reaction, is :[Reaction: cumene (isopropylbenzene) O_2 A [H_2O]H^+ phenol + acetone]

The structure of intermediate A in the following reaction, is :

[Reaction: cumene (isopropylbenzene) \(\xrightarrow{O_2}\) A \(\xrightarrow[H_2O]{H^+}\) phenol + acetone]

reaction scheme and four structure options

1. (1) phenyl isopropyl ether: C6H5-O-CH(CH3)2

2. (2) cumene hydroperoxide: C6H5-C(CH3)2-O-O-H

3. (3) C6H5-O-O-CH(CH3)2

4. (4) C6H5-CH(CH3)-CH2-O-O-H

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Answer: 2. (2) cumene hydroperoxide: C6H5-C(CH3)2-O-O-H

In the cumene process, cumene is oxidised by air at the benzylic tertiary C-H bond to form a hydroperoxide.

\(\mathrm{C_6H_5CH(CH_3)_2 + O_2 \rightarrow C_6H_5C(CH_3)_2-O-O-H}\) (cumene hydroperoxide, A).
Acid hydrolysis of A gives phenol and acetone.

The other structures are an ether, a peroxide with the wrong connectivity, and a primary hydroperoxide; none arises from radical oxidation at the tertiary benzylic carbon. Answer: option (2).

Doubtly AI · 30 Oct 2026 AI-generated · not yet verified Report

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The structure of intermediate A in the following reaction, is :[Reaction: cumene (isopropylbenzene) O_2 A [H_2O]H^+ phenol + acetone]

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