NEETChemistryGeneral Organic Chemistry
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Diphenyl ether is significantly more difficult to protonate than diethyl ether. Reason (R): The phenyl rings in diphenyl ether decrease the electron density on oxygen primarily through a strong -I (inductive) effect. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the
Options
- ABoth (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- BBoth (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
- C(A) is correct but (R) is not correct
- D(A) is not correct but (R) is correct
Correct answer
C. (A) is correct but (R) is not correct
Step-by-step solution
Assertion (A) is correct because the lone pairs on the oxygen atom in diphenyl ether are delocalized into the two benzene rings, making them less available for protonation compared to the localized lone pairs in diethyl ether. Reason (R) is incorrect because the primary cause for the decreased electron density on the oxygen atom is resonance (delocalization of lone pairs into the system of the aromatic rings), not the inductive ( -I ) effect. Answer: (A) is correct but (R) is not correct