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NEET CHEMISTRYAlcohols, Phenols and EthersMedium

Question

The correct order of increasing C-X bond reactivity toward nucleophiles among the following is: I. [Missing] II. [Missing] III. (CH3)3C-X(\text{CH}_3)_3\text{C-X} IV. (CH3)2CH-X(\text{CH}_3)_2\text{CH-X}

A

I < II < IV < III

B

II < III < I < IV

C

IV < III < I < II

D

III < II < I < IV

Step-by-Step Solution

The reactivity of the C-X bond towards nucleophilic substitution depends largely on the stability of the carbocation intermediate formed (SN1S_N1 mechanism) or the steric hindrance (SN2S_N2). Compound III is a tertiary alkyl halide ((CH3)3C-X(\text{CH}_3)_3\text{C-X}), which readily undergoes heterolytic cleavage to form a highly stable tertiary carbocation, making it very reactive towards nucleophiles. Compound IV is a secondary alkyl halide ((CH3)2CH-X(\text{CH}_3)_2\text{CH-X}), which forms a less stable secondary carbocation and is therefore less reactive than III. Although the structures for I and II are missing from the provided text (in standard literature, these correspond to aryl and vinyl halides, which are highly unreactive due to partial double bond character arising from resonance), the relative order must conclude with IV < III. Option A (I < II < IV < III) correctly reflects this relative reactivity.

Exam Context & Concepts Covered

This question aligns with the NEET CHEMISTRY syllabus, specifically targeting concepts from Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers. Mastering this topic is crucial for scoring well in the upcoming medical entrance examinations. Solving conceptually related problems will help you understand the nuances of these concepts and improve your problem-solving speed.

CHEMISTRYAlcohols, Phenols and Etherscorrectincreasingreactivitytowardnucleophiles

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