Comments on: Exploring Resonance: Pi-acceptors

By: James Ashenhurst

James Ashenhurst — Mon, 11 May 2026 15:28:43 +0000

In reply to Nithin K. Yes exactly. Negative charge goes on nitrogen

By: Nithin K

Nithin K — Sun, 10 May 2026 07:53:33 +0000

We will get an allene system if a cyanide group acts as a pi acceptor right?

By: Sanyam

Sanyam — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 01:41:35 +0000

Refering to second best resonance form
And also second best resonance form
The resonance structure in left has unlike charges closer compared to the second best resonance form so why are both equally contributing

By: Emma

Emma — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 14:40:47 +0000

In reply to steve. I believe it is because it fulfills the octet rule in the “best” structure, while the second best is a tertiary carbocation.

By: James

James — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 15:22:48 +0000

In reply to steve. The difference should be quite small. One could make the argument that the form on the right has a more substituted double bond, so it should make a greater contribution to the resonance hybrid. I'll see if I can find someone to calculate the difference in stabilization energies.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 19:34:03 +0000

In reply to steve. Yeah, the one in the left is clearly more stable as it is a tertiary carbocation, while the "second best" on the right has a primary carbocation, which is very unstable. I wonder this question too.

By: steve

steve — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:38:14 +0000

Disregarding the reaction conditions, why isn’t the left resonance form in the first figure more stable? The carbocation in “second best” is more substituted than the carbocation in the “also second best” structure.