QJEEAdv24Ch17c1: JEE Advanced 2024 Chemistry - Class 12 JEEAdv24Ch17c1 Solution: Complete reaction of acetaldehyde with excess formaldehyde,…

Complete reaction of acetaldehyde with excess formaldehyde, upon heating with conc. $\mathrm{NaOH}$ solution, gives $\mathbf{P}$ and $\mathbf{Q}$ . Compound $\mathbf{P}$ does not give Tollens' test, whereas $\mathbf{Q}$ on acidification gives positive Tollens' test. Treatment of $\mathbf{P}$ with excess cyclohexanone in the presence of catalytic amount of $p$ -toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) gives product $\mathbf{R}$ .

Sum of the number of methylene groups $\left(-\mathrm{CH}_2-\right)$ and oxygen atoms in $\mathbf{R}$ is __________.