Question of the day

Benzyl chloride is reacted with different nucleophiles (HO–, CH₃COO–, PhO–, CH₃O–). Arrange them in the decreasing order of reactivity with Benzyl chloride.

HO– > CH₃O– > PhO– > CH₃COO– Here,CH₃O– is most stable as the negative charge is distributed among two oxygen, followed by oxygen attach to phenyl group will share electron in resonance. And carbon is more electronegative than hydrogen attached to oxygen that’s why HO– is less stable than CH₃O– and more nucleophilic.

CH₃O– > HO– > PhO– > CH₃COO– HO– > CH₃O– > PhO– > CH₃COO– HO– > PhO– > CH₃O– > CH₃COO– CH₃COO– > CH₃O– > HO– > PhO– HO- > CH₃COO- > CH₃O- > PhO-