The decreasing order of nucleophilicity for the following anions is CH₃ CO₂⁻, CH₃ O⁻, C₆ H₄ O⁻, NO₃⁻ · ABC26OR0646

Subject: Organic Chemistry · Chapter: Reagents, Reaction Mechanisms & Named Reactions · Topic: Reagents, Reaction Mechanisms & Named Reactions – General · Exam: GATE 2000-2022 · Marks: 2 · Difficulty: Hard

The decreasing order of nucleophilicity for the following anions is $\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{CO}_{2}^{-}, \mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{O}^{-}, \mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{4} \mathrm{O}^{-}, \mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}$
(a)$\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{CO}_{2}^{-}>\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{O}^{-}>\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{O}^{-}>\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}$
(b)$\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{O}^{-}>\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}>\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{O}^{-}>\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{CO}_{2}^{-}$
(c)$\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{O}^{-}>\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{O}^{-}>\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{CO}_{2}^{-}>\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}$
(d)$\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{O}^{-}>\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{O}^{-}>\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}>\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{CO}_{2}^{-}$
Answer
Answer: C ✓ checked by 4AB · confidence high
Explanation
Nucleophilicity tracks basicity for these O-anions: CH₃O⁻ (pKa 16) > C₆H₅O⁻ (10) > CH₃CO₂⁻ (4.8) > NO₃⁻ (−1.4).

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