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JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3o1044

Considering both steric and electronic effects on the addition of a nucleophile such as (cyanohydrin formation), the order of decreasing carbonyl reactivity is

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D

Answer: C

Each alkyl group reduces the electrophilicity of carbonyl carbon (+I effect) and raises steric crowding in the sp3 tetrahedral product. Formaldehyde (no alkyl groups) is most reactive, then acetaldehyde (one methyl), then acetone (two methyls); di-tert-butyl ketone is extremely hindered by the two tert-butyl groups and is least reactive.
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