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Course: Class 11 Chemistry (India) > Unit 12

Lesson 10: Electron displacement effects

Resonance due to Electron Donors in a Benzyl Cation

In this video, we see how adding an electron donating functional group like an -OH group at the ortho, para and meta positions stabilise the benzyl cation. Created by Shahzad Karim.

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  • leafers ultimate style avatar for user Justin
    At I'm confused about how it matters if the lone pair is localized onto the carbon in the para vs meta positions if the whole idea about resonance contributors is that there really is not localization happening but that the structure is an resonance hybrid with the density around the entire ring.
    (2 votes)
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  • aqualine ultimate style avatar for user Remo F
    Why is the benzyl cation more stable than a meta- OH? I thought the inductive effect of meta- would somehow make the electrons flow more equally throughout the whole molecule, therefore making it more stable...
    (1 vote)
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Video transcript