Identify the product ' A ' in the following reaction, Anisole [398 ~K ] HI A + Iodomethane

Step-by-step solution

The cleavage of anisole with hydroiodic acid at 398 K proceeds through nucleophilic substitution on the alkyl carbon of this aryl alkyl ether system. The aryl-oxygen bond possesses partial double bond character due to resonance stabilization, rendering it resistant to cleavage. In contrast, the alkyl-oxygen bond is more labile. Protonation of the ether oxygen by HI yields an oxonium ion intermediate, which is then subject to S_N2 attack by the iodide nucleophile. This nucleophilic attack occurs exclusively at the m