JEE Advanced levelOne or more correct optionsDifficulty 3 of 3o3104
A small amount of NaI is added to a mixture of 1-chlorobutane in aqueous acetone, in which 1-chlorobutane hydrolyses only slowly. The hydrolysis becomes much faster. Select the correct statements.
AIodide acts as a catalyst because it is a poorer leaving group than chloride.
B1-Iodobutane is attacked by water far more easily than 1-chlorobutane because iodide is a better leaving group.
CIodide is regenerated in the second step, so only a catalytic amount is needed.
DIodide is a much better nucleophile than water and displaces chloride by SN2 to give 1-iodobutane.
Answer: B, C, D
Nucleophilic catalysis: IX− replaces ClX− (fast, since iodide is a strong nucleophile) and the resulting alkyl iodide then reacts with water (fast, since iodide is an excellent leaving group). The overall effect is RCl+HX2OROH+HCl and iodide is recovered. The last statement is wrong: the catalyst works because iodide is a better nucleophile and a better leaving group.