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JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3g1047

Which compound has the least extent of delocalisation of the nitrogen lone pair into the benzene ring?

  1. A2,6-dimethyl-N,N-dimethylaniline
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D

Answer: A

The group can conjugate with the ring only if it is coplanar with it. The two ortho methyl groups crowd the N-methyl groups and force the nitrogen out of the ring plane, so the lone pair overlaps poorly with the pi system (steric inhibition of resonance).
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