Which specific electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction exhibits a measurable kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD greater than 1) because its energy barrier for reverting to reactants is comparable to t

Question

Which specific electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction exhibits a measurable kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD greater than 1) because its energy barrier for reverting to reactants is comparable to the barrier for proton loss?

Prashant Kotian · Accepted Answer

Correct answer: C. Sulfonation is highly reversible. The intermediate can either revert to reactants or lose a proton. Because these two paths have similar activation energies, making the C-H bond harder to break (by using C-D) slows the forward path, resulting in a measurable isotope effect.

💡 Solution & Explanation

Practice 22,000+ questions like this