Which of the following is least reactive in a nucleophilic substitution reaction?
- $\left(\mathrm{CH}_3\right)_3 \mathrm{C}-\mathrm{Cl}$
- $\mathrm{CH}_2=\mathrm{CHCl}$
- $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{CL}$
- $\mathrm{CH}_2=\mathrm{CHCH}_2 \mathrm{Cl}$
Solution
In structure II, Cl-atom have positive charge and partial double bond character with $\mathrm{C}$ of vinyl group, so it is more tightly attracted towards the nucleus and it does not get replaced by nucleophile in $\mathrm{S}_{\mathrm{N}}$ reaction.
Related Theory
$s p^3$-hybridized electrophile must have a leaving group $(\mathrm{X})$ in order for the reaction to take place.
Asked in: NEET 2004