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The reactivity of carboxylic acid derivatives towards nucleophilic acyl substitution depends on:
1. Electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon
2. Stability of the leaving group
A better leaving group increases reactivity.
Groups showing strong $$\mathrm{-I}$$ effect increase the positive charge on the carbonyl carbon and enhance reactivity.
Groups showing strong $$\mathrm{+M}$$ effect donate electron density and decrease reactivity.
(A) Acid Chloride:
$$\mathrm{R-COCl}$$
Chlorine shows a strong:
$$\mathrm{-I\ effect}$$
making the carbonyl carbon highly electrophilic.
The resonance donation from chlorine is very weak due to poor $$\mathrm{2p-3p}$$ overlap.
Also:
$$\mathrm{Cl^-}$$
is an excellent leaving group.
Therefore, acid chlorides are highly reactive.
(B) Acid Anhydride:
$$\mathrm{R-CO-O-CO-R}$$
The leaving group is:
$$\mathrm{R-COO^-}$$
which is resonance stabilised and a good leaving group.
The central oxygen donates electron density through resonance, but this effect is shared between two carbonyl groups.
Thus, anhydrides are less reactive than acid chlorides.
(C) Ester:
$$\mathrm{R-COOR'}$$
The leaving group is:
$$\mathrm{RO^-}$$
which is a stronger base and poorer leaving group.
The alkoxy oxygen strongly donates electron density through:
$$\mathrm{+M\ effect}$$
thereby reducing electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon.
Hence, esters are less reactive than anhydrides.
(D) Amide:
$$\mathrm{R-CONH_2}$$
The leaving group would be:
$$\mathrm{NH_2^-}$$
which is an extremely poor leaving group.
Nitrogen strongly donates electron density through resonance:
$$\mathrm{+M\ effect}$$
greatly stabilising the carbonyl group and reducing its electrophilicity.
Therefore, amides are the least reactive derivatives.
Hence, the order of reactivity is:
$$\mathrm{Acid\ Chloride > Acid\ Anhydride > Ester > Amide}$$
$$\mathrm{A > B > C > D}$$
Therefore, the correct option is:
$$\boxed{\mathrm{Option\ A}}$$
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