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NEET CHEMISTRYMedium

Consider the following reactions:

  1. RCOOH(i) X(ii) H2O/HClRCH2OHR-COOH \xrightarrow{\text{(i) } X} \xrightarrow{\text{(ii) } H_2O/HCl} R-CH_2OH
  2. RCH=CH2(i) X(ii) H2O/NaOH/H2O2RCH2CH2OHR-CH=CH_2 \xrightarrow{\text{(i) } X} \xrightarrow{\text{(ii) } H_2O/NaOH/H_2O_2} R-CH_2-CH_2-OH

Identify 'X' in the above reactions:

A

B_2H_6

B

LiAlH_4

C

NaBH_4

D

H_2/Pd

Step-by-Step Solution

The reagent 'X' must be capable of performing both transformations:

  1. Reaction 1 (Reduction of Carboxylic Acid): Carboxylic acids are reduced to primary alcohols by strong reducing agents like Lithium Aluminium Hydride (LiAlH4LiAlH_4) or Diborane (B2H6B_2H_6). notably, B2H6B_2H_6 is a versatile reagent that reduces carboxylic acids even more readily than esters or ketones. Sodium Borohydride (NaBH4NaBH_4) does not reduce carboxylic acids.
  2. Reaction 2 (Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkene): The conversion of an alkene (RCH=CH2R-CH=CH_2) to a primary alcohol (RCH2CH2OHR-CH_2-CH_2-OH) anti-Markovnikov addition of water requires Diborane (B2H6B_2H_6) followed by oxidation with alkaline hydrogen peroxide (H2O2/OHH_2O_2/OH^-). LiAlH4LiAlH_4 does not effect this transformation.

Since 'X' must be common to both, B2H6B_2H_6 is the correct answer.

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