Question

How will you convert the following:

Propanal to 2-hydroxy propanoic acid

Answer 1

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{\phantom{...................................................................}O\phantom{....................................}Cl\phantom{......}O\phantom{....................................}O\phantom{......}OH\phantom{...........}}\\
\phantom{...............................................................}||\phantom{.....................................}|\phantom{.......}||\phantom{.....................................}|\phantom{.......}||\phantom{.........}\\
\ce{CH3CH2CHO ->[(i) KMnO4/KOH][(ii) H3O+]CH3CH2 - C - OH ->[Red P/Cl2][]CH3 - CH - C - OH ->[(i) NaOH][(ii) H3O+] \underset{2-Hydroxy propanoic acid}{CH3 - CH - C - OH}}
\end{array}\]