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Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
Among the given compounds, the most susceptible to nucleophilic attack at the carbonyl group is
ChemistryAldehydes and KetonesNEETNEET 2010 (Screening)
Options:
  • A $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{COOCH}_3$
  • B $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{CONH}_2$
  • C $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{COOCOCH}_3$
  • D $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{COCl}$
Solution:
1345 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is: $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{COCl}$
Key Idea Lesser the electron density of acyl carbon atom, more will be the susceptibility of nucleophile to attack it.
The $\mathrm{Cl}$ atom has strong $-I$ effect and weakest $+\mathrm{R}$ effect because of the weak $\pi$-bond between the small sized $\mathrm{C}$-atom and large sized $\mathrm{Cl}$ atom. Thus, in $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{COCl}$, acyl carbon has least electron density and hence, more susceptible for nucleophilic attack.

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