Among common laboratory solvents, ethers are remarkably unreactive towards many strong reagents. Acc — Alcohols Phenols and Ethers Chemistry Question
Question
Among common laboratory solvents, ethers are remarkably unreactive towards many strong reagents. According to a previous year JEE/AIPMT question cited in the text, which of the following compounds is highly resistant to nucleophilic attack by hydroxyl ($OH^-$) ions?
Answer: D
💡 Solution & Explanation
Ethers (like diethyl ether) contain extremely poor leaving groups (alkoxide ions, $RO^-$). They do not possess an electrophilic carbonyl carbon or an acidic proton. Consequently, they are entirely inert to strong bases and nucleophiles like hydroxyl ions ($OH^-$) at normal temperatures.
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