Chapter 24: Problem 206
The order of stability of the following carbocations:
(I) \(\mathrm{CH}_{2}=\mathrm{CH}-\stackrel{\oplus}{\mathrm{C}} \mathrm{H}_{2}\)
\(\mathbf{[ 2 0 1 3}]\)
(II) \(\mathrm{CH}_{3}-\mathrm{CH}_{2}-\stackrel{\oplus}{\mathrm{C}}
\mathrm{H}_{2}\)
(III) is:
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Understand Carbocation Stability
Analyze Structure I
Analyze Structure II
Analyze Structure III
Compare Stabilization Effects
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Resonance Stabilization in Carbocations
- This effect reduces the positive charge per atom, leading to greater stability.
- Structure III, for instance, benefits from resonance with the benzene ring, which allows the charge to spread across the aromatic system.
Characteristics of Allylic Carbocations
- As a result, the charge is not fixed but rather shifts, balancing out the system and providing extra stability.
- Structure I is an example of an allylic carbocation, where the positive charge enjoys resonance with the adjacent double bond.
The Stability of Benzyl Carbocations
- In Structure III, this type of stabilization is harnessed, resulting in greater overall stability.
- Because the benzene ring can support multiple resonance forms, benzyl carbocations can effectively dissipate the positive charge over a larger area.
Understanding Hyperconjugation
- In primary, secondary, or tertiary carbocations, hyperconjugation helps "spread" the charge by involving electrons from adjacent single bonds (often C-H bonds).
- The more neighboring carbon-hydrogen (or carbon-carbon) bonds there are, the more possibilities for overlap, thereby increasing stability.
Inductive Effects in Carbocation Stability
- The inductive effect is particularly relevant for understanding differences in stability between otherwise similar carbocations.
- For example, alkyl groups tend to donate electron density (a positive inductive effect) towards the positively charged carbon, stabilizing the carbocation.