Question

The heating of phenyl-methyl ethers with HI produces:

Options

• ethyl chlorides

• iodobenzene

• phenol

• benzene

Answer 1

phenol

Explanation:

After protonation of anisole, breaking of O-CH₃ bond occur but O-CH₃ bond is weaker and thus, it breaks to give phenol. The oxygen bonded with phenyl ring has double bond character due to sp² hybridised carbon of phenyl ring thus, it shows stronger bonding than the O-CH₃ bond.