In the reaction:
the product is:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is option 3.
The reaction of benzyl methyl ether (C₆H₅–CH₂–O–CH₃) with HI gives: C₆H₅–CH₂I + CH₃OH
Ethers react with HI by cleavage of the C–O bond after protonation of the oxygen.
-
First step: Protonation of ether oxygen
The oxygen atom gets protonated by HI, forming an oxonium ion.
-
Second step: Nucleophilic attack by I⁻
The bond breaks preferentially at the benzyl carbon because a benzyl carbocation is resonance stabilized.
-
Products formed
-
Benzyl iodide (C₆H₅–CH₂I)
-
Methanol (CH₃OH)
-
Thus the reaction is:
C₆H₅–CH₂–O–CH₃ + HI → C₆H₅–CH₂I + CH₃OH
The reaction will be as follows:
Mechanism:
