NEET2026ChemistryChapterActual
Assertion (A) : The reaction of benzyl phenyl ether with hydrogen iodide proceeds as shown in the given figure. Reason (R) : In alkyl aryl ethers, the aryl-oxygen bond is easily cleaved by halogen acids due to the formation of a resonance-stabilized aryl carbocation. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Options
- ABoth (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- BBoth (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
- C(A) is true but (R) is false
- DBoth (A) and (R) are false
Correct answer
D. Both (A) and (R) are false
Step-by-step solution
Assertion (A) is false because the reaction of benzyl phenyl ether with HI yields phenol and benzyl iodide, not iodobenzene and benzyl alcohol. The cleavage of the C-O bond occurs at the benzyl-oxygen bond rather than the phenyl-oxygen bond. This is because the phenyl-oxygen bond has partial double bond character due to resonance, making it stronger and difficult to break. Additionally, cleavage of the benzyl-oxygen bond forms a resonance-stabilized benzyl carbocation. Reason (R) is false because in alkyl aryl ethe