Question Details

The most stable carbocation among the following is :

Options

A

  .

B

  .

C

  .

D

  .

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option C

  .

Option 4

Solution :

To determine the most stable carbocation among the given options, we can analyze the degree of carbocation (primary, secondary, or tertiary) and the factors stabilizing them, such as inductive effect (+I effect) and hyperconjugation (number of α-hydrogens).

Let's analyze the structure of each option based on the provided images:

1. Option 1 (Image 0):
The carbocation is CH3-CH2-CH+-CH(CH3)2.
- The positively charged carbon is bonded to two other carbon atoms, making it a secondary (2°) carbocation.
- The neighboring carbons are a -CH2- group (having 2 α-hydrogens) and a -CH- group (having 1 α-hydrogen).
- Total number of α-hydrogens = 2 + 1 = 3.

2. Option 2 (Image 1):
The carbocation is CH3-CH+-CH2-CH(CH3)2.
- The positively charged carbon is bonded to two other carbon atoms, making it a secondary (2°) carbocation.
- The neighboring carbons are a -CH3 group (having 3 α-hydrogens) and a -CH2- group (having 2 α-hydrogens).
- Total number of α-hydrogens = 3 + 2 = 5.

3. Option 3 (Image 2):
The carbocation is a cyclopentylmethyl carbocation (a cyclopentyl ring with a -CH2+ group attached).
- The positively charged carbon is bonded to only one other carbon atom, making it a primary (1°) carbocation.
- The neighboring carbon on the ring is a -CH- group, which has 1 α-hydrogen.
- Total number of α-hydrogens = 1.

4. Option 4 (Image 3):
The carbocation is 1-methylcyclohexyl carbocation (a cyclohexyl ring with a methyl group and the positive charge on the same carbon, carbon-1).
- The positively charged carbon is bonded to three other carbon atoms (two ring carbons and one methyl carbon), making it a tertiary (3°) carbocation.
- The neighboring carbons are a methyl group (3 α-hydrogens) and two ring -CH2- groups (2 + 2 = 4 α-hydrogens).
- Total number of α-hydrogens = 3 + 4 = 7.

Conclusion:
Since stability of carbocations follows the order:
3>2>1
The tertiary (3°) carbocation shown in Option 4 is the most stable carbocation due to the greatest inductive effect (+I effect) from three alkyl groups and the maximum number of hyperconjugation structures (stabilized by 7 α-hydrogens).

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