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If 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde undergoes Clemmensen reduction, will the hydroxyl group (OH) be converted to a chloro group (Cl)?

I know that it happens in cyclohexanes, and I am not sure if this is true for aromatic compounds as well.

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You're right about the side reaction (hydroxy-halogen exchange) in the case of cyclohexanols. It is nucleophilic substitution on a (secondary) alkanol under acidic conditions.

In the case of vanillin, your starting material, the situation is different. Under the conditions of the Clemmensen reaction, that is in the presence of (amalgamated) zinc and hydrochloric acid, a nucleophilic aromatic substitution can be ruled out.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks . Also does clemmensen reduction affect methoxy group too like hydroxy ( in cycloalkanes ) ? $\endgroup$
    – Abhilasha
    Jan 17, 2017 at 18:04

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