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Which one is the most reactive toward SN1S_N1 reaction?

A

C6H5CH(C6H5)Br\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CH(C}_6\text{H}_5\text{)Br}

B

C6H5CH(CH3)Br\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CH(CH}_3\text{)Br}

C

C6H5C(CH3)(C6H5)Br\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{C(CH}_3\text{)(C}_6\text{H}_5\text{)Br}

D

C6H5CH2Br\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CH}_2\text{Br}

Step-by-Step Solution

The rate of an SN1S_N1 reaction depends on the stability of the carbocation intermediate formed during the first (rate-determining) step. Heterolytic cleavage of the C-Br bond in each option yields the following carbocations:

  1. C6H5-C+H-C6H5\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{-C}^+\text{H-C}_6\text{H}_5: Secondary carbocation, stabilized by resonance from two phenyl rings.
  2. C6H5-C+H-CH3\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{-C}^+\text{H-CH}_3: Secondary carbocation, stabilized by resonance from one phenyl ring and hyperconjugation from one methyl group.
  3. C6H5-C+(CH3)-C6H5\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{-C}^+\text{(CH}_3\text{)-C}_6\text{H}_5: Tertiary carbocation, highly stabilized by resonance from two phenyl rings and hyperconjugation from one methyl group.
  4. C6H5-C+H2\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{-C}^+\text{H}_2: Primary carbocation, stabilized by resonance from one phenyl ring. The carbocation formed from C6H5C(CH3)(C6H5)Br\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{C(CH}_3\text{)(C}_6\text{H}_5\text{)Br} is the most stable because it is a tertiary carbocation further stabilized by extensive resonance delocalization over two phenyl rings. Therefore, it is the most reactive towards SN1S_N1 substitution.
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