JEE Main202622 January 2026Morning ShiftChemistryHaloalkanes and HaloarenesActual
The correct order of reactivity of CH ₃ Br in methanol with the following nucleophiles is F ⁻, I ⁻, C ₂ H ₅ O ⁻ and C ₆ H ₅ O ⁻
Options
- AI ⁻> C ₂ H ₅ O ⁻> F ⁻> C ₆ H ₅ O ⁻
- BI ⁻> C ₂ H ₅ O ⁻> C ₆ H ₅ O ⁻> F ⁻
- CI ⁻> F ⁻> C ₆ H ₅ O ⁻> C ₂ H ₅ O ⁻
- DI ⁻> C ₆ H ₅ O ⁻> F ⁻> C ₂ H ₅ O ⁻
Correct answer
B. I ⁻> C ₂ H ₅ O ⁻> C ₆ H ₅ O ⁻> F ⁻
Step-by-step solution
In methanol (protic solvent), nucleophilicity is determined by basicity and solvation effects. Smaller ions are heavily solvated by the protic solvent, reducing their effective nucleophilicity. C₂H₅O⁻ (ethoxide) is the strongest nucleophile as it is less solvated and highly basic. C₆H₅O⁻ (phenoxide) is weaker due to resonance stabilization by the benzene ring. F⁻ is highly solvated despite high basicity, reducing its nucleophilicity significantly. I⁻ is the best nucleophile because it is the largest ion and least s