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JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3o4072

For 2-pentyl-X with a strong base under E2 conditions, which is the correct order of increasing proportion of the Hofmann product, pent-1-ene, for X = , and ?

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

Answer: C

The poorer the leaving group, the later the C-X cleavage and the more carbanion-like the E2 transition state, which favours removal of the least hindered, most acidic hydrogen. Bromide is a good leaving group and gives mostly Saytzeff product. Fluoride is poor and gives mostly Hofmann product, and the positively charged group, which is bulky and also strongly acidifies neighbouring hydrogens, gives nearly exclusive Hofmann product.
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