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JEE Advanced 2025 Paper 1 · Chemistry · General Organic Chemistry and Isomerism · hard

But-2-yne (X) is converted in two ways. Route 1: (i) Na/liq. NH3; (ii) Br2/CCl4; (iii) one equivalent of alcoholic KOH (E2, anti-periplanar…

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But-2-yne (X\mathrm{X}) is converted in two ways. Route 1: (i) Na/liq. NH3\mathrm{Na/liq.\ NH_3}; (ii) Br2/CCl4\mathrm{Br_2/CCl_4}; (iii) one equivalent of alcoholic KOH\mathrm{KOH} (E2, anti-periplanar elimination), giving P\mathrm{P}. Route 2: (i) H2\mathrm{H_2}, Lindlar catalyst; (ii) Br2/CCl4\mathrm{Br_2/CCl_4} (anti addition); (iii) one equivalent of alcoholic KOH\mathrm{KOH}, giving Q\mathrm{Q}. P\mathrm{P} and Q\mathrm{Q} are 2-bromobut-2-enes. Which statement is correct?
  1. A. P\mathrm{P} is the ZZ isomer and Q\mathrm{Q} is the EE isomer
  2. B. P\mathrm{P} is the EE isomer and Q\mathrm{Q} is the ZZ isomer
  3. C. Both P\mathrm{P} and Q\mathrm{Q} are the EE isomer
  4. D. Both P\mathrm{P} and Q\mathrm{Q} are the ZZ isomer
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Answer: (B) P\mathrm{P} is the EE isomer and Q\mathrm{Q} is the ZZ isomer

Route 1: dissolving-metal reduction gives trans-but-2-ene; anti addition of Br2\mathrm{Br_2} to a trans alkene gives meso-2,3-dibromobutane (2R,3S2R,3S). Route 2: Lindlar reduction gives cis-but-2-ene; anti addition of bromine gives the racemic (2R,3R2R,3R/2S,3S2S,3S) dibromide. For E2 the H\mathrm{H} and Br\mathrm{Br} removed must be anti-periplanar. Placing the meso dibromide in the conformation with Br\mathrm{Br} (on C2) anti to H\mathrm{H} (on C3) puts the two methyl groups gauche, so they end up cis on the new double bond. On C3 the higher priority group is Br\mathrm{Br} and on C2 it is CH3\mathrm{CH_3}; with the methyls cis these lie on opposite sides, which is the EE isomer. The racemic dibromide, by the same analysis, has its methyls anti and gives the ZZ isomer. So P is EE and Q is ZZ, option B.
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