Which of the compounds will react faster in SN1 reaction with the OH ion?

CH3— CH2— Cl or C6H5— CH2— Cl



C6H5— CH2— Cl will react faster in an SN1 reaction with the OH- ion. This happens due to the stability of the carbocation in the compound. C6H5 group is already stable due to resonance, and the CH2 attached will gain that stability, thus forming a stable C6H5CH2+ carbocation after the cleavage in the first step of the SN1 reaction. The same type of carbocation does not occur in CH3—CH2—Cl.


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