Statement (I) : On nitration of m -xylene with HNO3,H2SO4 followed by oxidation, 4-nitrobenzene-1, 3-dicarboxylic acid is obtained as the major product. Statement (II) : CH3 group is o/p-directing whileNO2 group is m-directing group. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below :
(A)Both Statement I and Statement II are false
(B)Statement I is false but Statement II is true
(C)Both Statement I and Statement II are true✓ Correct
(D)Statement I is true but Statement II is false
Answer: (C)
Solution
m-Xylene carries two methyl groups (positions 1 and 3), both ortho/para-directing and ring-activating. Nitration therefore favors the position that is simultaneously ortho to one methyl and para to the other — position 4 — giving 4-nitro-1,3-dimethylbenzene as the major mono-nitro product. Subsequent vigorous oxidation converts both methyl groups to carboxylic acids, producing 4-nitrobenzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid — statement I is correct. Statement II is the standard directing-effect rule: an electron-donating alkyl group like −CH3 is ortho/para-directing, while the electron-withdrawing −NO2 group is meta-directing — also correct. Both statements hold, with the outcome in statement I following directly from the directing behaviour described in statement II.
JEE Main · 2025 · 29 Jan 2025 · Shift 2 · Single correct option
