Chapter 8, Problem 5CTQ

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: Reason for greater stabilty of benzylic carbocation than allylic carbocation should be determined.

Concept introduction: Organic compounds are covalent in nature that undergoes a reaction by heterolytic cleavage or homolytic cleavage.

In heterolytic cleavage, shared pair of electrons is taken away by one of the atoms which result in charged species. In homolytic cleavage, shared pair of electrons are equally distributed between two atom that results in free radicals.

Carbocation is a general term employed for a postively charged carbon irrespective of valency of carbon. In carbocation, carbon is bonded to 3 atoms or groups and has only sextet of electrons so it behaves as an electron-deficient species. It is $s{p}^2$ hybridized with a vacant $p$ orbital and has a planar geometry.