Question

50 Which of the following explains why epoxides are more reactive than ethers? a. The C-O-C bond angle of an epoxide is 109°, making epoxides have angle strain. b. The oxygen atom of an epoxide is sp2 hybridized. c. The C-O-C bond angle of an epoxide is 120°, making epoxides have angle strain. d. The C-O-C bond angle of an epoxide is 60°, making epoxides have angle strain. e: None of the above is the correct answer.

Answer 1

Ether compounds are that compounds which contain ether functional group ( R—O—R') ,where R and R' are alkyl or aryl groups.

Epoxy compounds are cyclic ether compounds having three member ring.

Since epoxy compounds are three membered cyclic ring structures thus the geometrical angle of C-O-C is around 60° .

Again the oxygen atom of the epoxy compounds are sp³ hybridised thus the hybridisation angle should be 109.28°.So the epoxy compounds suffer the angle strain of ( 109.28° — 60°)= 49.28°

This strain is called Bayer angle strain.

On the other hand, for an acylic ether the hybridisation angle and geometrical angle are around 109.28° .Thus there is no such angle strain.

So we can say that the c-o-c bond angle of an epoxide is 60°,making epoxides have angle strain which leads to epoxides more reactive than that of ethers.

So, option D is the correct answer.