Chlorocyclopentane reacts with magnesium in dry ether to form cyclopentylmagnesium chloride, a Grignard reagent whose ring carbon is strongly nucleophilic and basic. Treated with ethanol, this carbanionic carbon abstracts the acidic O−H proton, so the ring carbon gains only a hydrogen rather than an ethyl group or an alkoxy group. The product is cyclopentane.
JEE Main · 2021 · 27 Aug 2021 · Shift 1 · Single correct option