Which of the following compounds undergoes the fastest substitution reaction?
- A
- B
- C
- D
Solution & Step-by-step Explanation
An reaction proceeds via the formation of a carbocation intermediate, and its rate is directly governed by the relative thermodynamic stability of this carbocation.
When dissociates, it generates the methoxymethyl carbocation:
This carbocation is extraordinarily stabilized due to strong resonance donation from the lone pair of electrons on the adjacent oxygen atom (forming a stable oxocarbocation structure where all atoms have completed octets). This makes it highly reactive under conditions compared to regular primary or destabilized carbonyl alkyl halides.
When dissociates, it generates the methoxymethyl carbocation:
This carbocation is extraordinarily stabilized due to strong resonance donation from the lone pair of electrons on the adjacent oxygen atom (forming a stable oxocarbocation structure where all atoms have completed octets). This makes it highly reactive under conditions compared to regular primary or destabilized carbonyl alkyl halides.