AIIMS 2018 Chemistry Halogenation MCQ Question

In the reaction of 1⁻m-tolylethanone with bromine in the presence of an alkali, the α-halo substitution occurs at the carbon adjacent to the carbonyl group (C=O), leading to the formation of an α-bromo ketone. Option A correctly depicts this α-halo product, where bromine replaces a hydrogen atom at the α-carbon. Other options may misrepresent the position of bromination or fail to show the correct structure of the α-bromo ketone, thus not aligning with the expected outcome of the reaction. Understanding the mechanism of α-halogenation is crucial, as it highlights the reactivity of carbonyl compounds in electrophilic substitution reactions.