Question

In which selection are the carboxylic acid derivatives arranged from the most reactive toward
nucleophilic acyl substitution
(a) Acetic anhydride, acid chloride, carboxylic amide, carboxylic ester
(a) Carboxylic amide, carboxylic ester, Acetic anhydride, acid chloride
(c) Acid chloride, acid anhydride, carboxylic amide, carboxylic ester,
(d) Acid chloride, acid anhydride, carboxylic ester, carboxylic amide

Answer 1

Answer:

Acyl chlorides

Acyl chlorides are the most reactive carboxylic acid derivatives. The electronegative chlorine atom pulls electrons toward it in the C-Cl bond, which makes the carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. This makes nucleophilic attack easier.