The intermediate compound 'X' in the following chemical reaction is:
$$ ext{Toluene} \xrightarrow{CrO_2Cl_2/C

Question

The intermediate compound 'X' in the following chemical reaction is:
$$	ext{Toluene} \xrightarrow{CrO_2Cl_2/CS_2} X \xrightarrow{H_3O^+} 	ext{Benzaldehyde}$$

Accepted Answer

The given reaction is the **Etard reaction**. In this reaction, chromyl chloride ($CrO_2Cl_2$) is used as an oxidizing agent in a non-polar solvent like $CS_2$. It oxidizes the methyl group of toluene to form a brown-coloured **chromium complex** as an intermediate. This intermediate complex, upon subsequent acid hydrolysis ($H_3O^+$), yields benzaldehyde. The structure of the intermediate chromium complex 'X' is $C_6H_5-CH(OCrOHCl_2)_2$.

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