Organic Chemistry – Some Basic Principles and Techniques - Electronic Displacements (Inductive, Electromeric, Resonance, Hyperconjugation)
Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.
🔑Concepts
Inductive Effect ( effect): It is the permanent displacement of electrons along a saturated carbon chain due to the difference in electronegativity between atoms. It is classified into (electron-withdrawing) like , , and (electron-donating) like , .
Electromeric Effect ( effect): A temporary effect involving the complete transfer of a shared pair of -electrons to one of the atoms joined by a multiple bond in the presence of an attacking reagent. It is if electrons move toward the reagent and if they move away.
Resonance (Mesomeric) Effect ( or effect): The polarity produced in a molecule by the interaction of two -bonds or between a -bond and a lone pair of electrons. effect involves electron donation into the conjugated system (e.g., , ), while involves electron withdrawal (e.g., , ).
Hyperconjugation: Also known as 'no-bond resonance' or the Baker-Nathan effect. It involves the delocalization of -electrons of a bond of an alkyl group directly attached to an atom of an unsaturated system or to an atom with an unshared -orbital (like a carbocation).
Stability of Carbocations: Stability increases with the number of alkyl groups attached to the positively charged carbon due to effect and hyperconjugation: .
📐Formulae
💡Examples
Problem 1:
Arrange the following carboxylic acids in increasing order of their acidity: , , , .
Solution:
Explanation:
The acidity of carboxylic acids increases with the presence of electron-withdrawing groups ( effect). Chlorine is an electronegative element that exerts a effect, which stabilizes the carboxylate anion () by dispersing the negative charge. As the number of atoms increases, the effect strengthens, making the acid stronger.
Problem 2:
Why is the butyl carbocation more stable than the carbocation ?
Solution:
Due to greater hyperconjugation and effect in .
Explanation:
In , there are -hydrogens available for hyperconjugation, whereas in , there are only -hydrogens. More hyperconjugative structures lead to greater delocalization of the positive charge, resulting in higher stability. Additionally, three methyl groups provide a stronger effect than one methyl group.
Problem 3:
Identify the type of electronic displacement in the reaction of with .
Solution:
effect (Positive Electromeric effect).
Explanation:
When the attacking reagent is an electrophile (), the -electrons of the double bond are transferred to the carbon atom to which the reagent gets attached. This is defined as the effect.