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JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3g3178

At naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid is the thermodynamically favoured product. The best reason is that

  1. Athe 2-isomer is formed through a lower-energy transition state
  2. Bin the 1-isomer the bulky group is crowded by the peri hydrogen at C-8, a repulsion absent in the 2-isomer
  3. Cthe 2-isomer has more resonance structures than the 1-isomer
  4. Dthe 1-isomer lacks conjugation of with the ring

Answer: B

Thermodynamic stability is decided by the products themselves. A substituent at C-1 experiences steric strain with the hydrogen at C-8 (peri interaction), while one at C-2 does not. The 2-acid is therefore lower in energy.
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