Chemistry · Alkyl and Aryl Halides

JEE Main 2024 — 9 April, Shift 1 — Question 67

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled asReason (R).

Assertion (A) : SN2\mathrm{S}_{\mathrm{N}} 2 reaction of C6H5CH2Br\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{CH}_{2} \mathrm{Br} occurs more readily than the SN2\mathrm{S}_{\mathrm{N}} 2 reaction of CH3CH2Br\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{CH}_{2} \mathrm{Br}.

Reason (R) : The partially bonded unhybridised p-orbital that develops in the trigonal bipyramidal transition state is stabilised by conjugation with the phenyl ring.

In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :

  1. Option A:

    Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

    Correct
  2. Option B:

    Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)

  3. Option C:

    (A) is correct but (R) is not correct

  4. Option D:

    (A) is not correct but (R) is correct

Answer: A

Step-by-step solution

Assertion (A) is Correct: The SN2\mathrm{S_N2} reaction of benzyl bromide, C6H5CH2Br\mathrm{C_6H_5CH_2Br}, occurs more readily than the SN2\mathrm{S_N2} reaction of ethyl bromide, CH3CH2Br\mathrm{CH_3CH_2Br}. This is because the reaction centre in benzyl bromide is the benzylic carbon, which is activated by the adjacent phenyl ring.

Reason (R) is Correct: In the SN2\mathrm{S_N2} transition state, a partially bonded, unhybridised pp-orbital character develops at the carbon undergoing nucleophilic attack. In benzyl bromide, this developing orbital is stabilised by conjugation with the phenyl ring through resonance.

The resonance stabilisation of the transition state lowers the activation energy, thereby increasing the rate of the SN2\mathrm{S_N2} reaction of benzyl bromide relative to ethyl bromide.

Thus, Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Answer key and solution verified before publishing.

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Exam
JEE Main 2024
Subject
Chemistry
Chapter
Alkyl and Aryl Halides
Topic
Mechanism of Substitution reactions
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and… | JEE Main 2024 PYQ with Solution · DhiX AI