Which one of the following compounds possesses the most acidic hydrogen?
(A)H3C−C≡C−H
(B)(see structure)✓ Correct
(C)(see structure)
(D)(see structure)
Answer: (B)
Solution
The acidity of a hydrogen is set by how well the anion left behind is stabilised, and electron-withdrawing groups acting through inductive and resonance effects do this strongly. The compound whose CH2 is flanked by three ester groups lets the resulting carbanion spread its charge over all three −COOCH3 units, giving the most stabilised anion and hence the most acidic hydrogen of the set.
JEE Main · 2020 · 03 Sep 2020 · Shift 1 · Single correct option