Question

Which of the following compound is formed during Perkin's reaction?

• A. Resorcinol
• B. Cinnamic acid
• C. Benzaldehyde
• D. Benzoin

Hint:

Perkin reaction: Aromatic aldehyde + Acid anhydride \(\rightarrow\) \(\alpha,\beta\)-unsaturated acid (e.g., cinnamic acid).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

To determine which compound is formed during Perkin's reaction, we need to understand the mechanism and the type of reaction process involved.

Perkin's Reaction: Perkin's reaction is an organic reaction used to synthesize α,β-unsaturated aromatic acids. The most common example is the formation of cinnamic acid.

This reaction generally involves the condensation of an aromatic aldehyde (commonly benzaldehyde) with an acid anhydride (usually acetic anhydride) in the presence of a base (often sodium acetate). The reaction process can be summarized as follows:

• The aromatic aldehyde undergoes a condensation with the acid anhydride.
• The product is an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid.
• Cinnamic acid is the specific compound formed when benzaldehyde is used as the starting aromatic aldehyde.

Conclusion: Given the understanding of Perkin's reaction, the compound formed during this reaction is Cinnamic acid. This is consistent with the given correct answer. Let's justify the ruling out of other options:

• Resorcinol: It is a dihydroxy benzene derivative, not typically formed in this reaction.
• Benzaldehyde: It is initially a reactant in Perkin's reaction, but not the final product.
• Benzoin: It is the product of the benzoin condensation reaction, not Perkin's reaction.

Therefore, the correct answer is indeed Cinnamic acid.