Chemistry - ALCOHOL & ETHER Question with Solution | TestHub

Question Explanation:

Find how many moles of HI are consumed when the given triaryl ether with two terminal methoxy groups treated with excess HI.

Concept: This question is based on ether cleavage with HI (SN¹ / SN² mechanism).

Solution:  

1. HI cleaves alkyl–O bonds (R–O–R′) but not aryl–O (Ar–O) under normal conditions.

2. The molecule has two terminal Ar–O–CH₃ (aryl–O–alkyl) linkages — only the O–CH₃ bonds are susceptible.

3. Each O–CH₃ cleavage consumes 1 mole HI, so total = 2 moles HI.