The central compound is salicylic acid, which carries a phenolic hydroxyl and a carboxylic acid group on adjacent ring positions. Conversion to the acetyl derivative, in which the phenolic oxygen is acetylated while the carboxyl is retained, is brought about by acetic anhydride in the presence of acid, so reagent X is (CH3CO)2O/H+. Conversion instead to the methyl ester, in which the carboxyl is esterified while the phenolic hydroxyl is retained, is brought about by methanol with acid on heating, so reagent Y is CH3OH/H+,Δ. Thus X is acetic anhydride with acid and Y is methanol with acid and heat.
JEE Main · 2023 · 01 Feb 2023 · Shift 2 · Single correct option