Q. Which one of the following esters gets hydrolysed most easily under alkaline conditions ?
A) Phenyl acetate ($C_6H_5OCOCH_3$)
B) p-Chlorophenyl acetate ($p$-$ClC_6H_4OCOCH_3$)
C) p-Nitrophenyl acetate ($p$-$O_2NC_6H_4OCOCH_3$)
D) p-Methoxyphenyl acetate ($p$-$CH_3OC_6H_4OCOCH_3$)
Explanation
[Solution] The strongly electron-withdrawing $-NO_2$ group makes the carbonyl carbon more electrophilic and the phenoxide a better leaving group, so p-nitrophenyl acetate hydrolyses fastest. Answer (3).
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker
Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist
Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.