JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3g1255
The cation shown is much more stable than the ethyl cation even though oxygen is electronegative. This is because
Aan oxygen lone pair is donated to the empty p orbital (+M effect), giving a structure with complete octets
Boxygen is electropositive and pushes electrons by +I
Cthe cation is stabilised by five hyperconjugating hydrogens
Doxygen is sp hybridised and strongly stabilises the cation
Answer: A
The cation shown is the methoxymethyl cation. The lone pair on oxygen donates into the empty p orbital (+M effect), giving a structure with oxygen-carbon double bond and complete octets. This resonance outweighs the -I effect of oxygen.