Decreasing order of stability of following carbocations
General Organic Chemistry (GOC) · Class 11 · JEE Main Previous Year Question
Decreasing order of stability of following carbocations
- a
A > C > B
- b
A > B > C
- c
C > B > A
- d✓
B > A > C
B > A > C
Step 1: Analyzing Carbocation Stabilization by Oxygen An adjacent oxygen atom can stabilize a carbocation via resonance (lone pair donation), which is a very strong effect.
- Structure B: The oxygen is directly adjacent to the positive charge (alpha position), allowing for resonance and octet is completed due to this resonance. This is the most stable.
- Structure A: Secondary carbocation in a five-membered ring. Stable, but lacks resonance.
- Structure C: Carbocation is at the beta position to oxygen. No resonance possible, only inductive destabilization. Least stable.
Step 2: Conclusion Stability order: B > A > C.
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