Why is C-Cl bond in acyl chloride more reactive despite being highly polarized?

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The discussion centers on the reactivity and bond characteristics of acyl chlorides and chlorobenzene. It highlights that in acyl chlorides, the highly electronegative oxygen atom polarizes the C-Cl bond, making the carbon atom positively charged and susceptible to nucleophilic attack. Despite the polarization suggesting a stronger bond, the presence of the electronegative oxygen actually enhances reactivity by making the carbon more electrophilic. The conversation also contrasts this with chlorobenzene, where the delocalization of electrons into the benzene ring reduces the polarity of the C-X bond, yet the bond remains stronger than that in haloalkanes. The key takeaway is that while polarization can imply bond strength, it also influences reactivity, particularly in the context of nucleophilic attacks.
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For acyl chloride the very electronegative oxygen atom attracts electrons of the carbon atom, thus greatly polarised the C-Cl bond. But won't it attract electrons of the Cl atom too? Then with the electrons drifting towards the C atom, it's partial positive charge should be reduced, but why is that wrong?
Also, since the C-Cl bond is greatly polarised, the bonding should be stronger, isn't it? Like C-F bond is more polar than C-Cl bond, so the fluoroalkane is less reactive than chloroalkane, but why is that acyl chloride, with its very polarised C-Cl bond, so reactive?
And for chlorobenzene, the electrons on halogen atom are delocalised into the benzene ring, causing the polarity of C-X bond to decrease, but why is it that the bond is stronger than haloalkane?
I realize that this is a very long question, thank you for your patience
 
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Chlorine electronegativity is not much lower than that of oxygen.
 
Borek said:
Chlorine electronegativity is not much lower than that of oxygen.
I don't understand
 
You can't assume oxygen draws the electrons from the carbon, and chlorine doesn't.
 
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Borek said:
You can't assume oxygen draws the electrons from the carbon, and chlorine doesn't.
Ohhh, I got it
But what about the next question? I thought the more polarised a bond is, the stronger it is, so it's less reactive?
 
AryaUnderfoot said:
For acyl chloride the very electronegative oxygen atom attracts electrons of the carbon atom, thus greatly polarised the C-Cl bond. But won't it attract electrons of the Cl atom too? Then with the electrons drifting towards the C atom, it's partial positive charge should be reduced, but why is that wrong?
Also, since the C-Cl bond is greatly polarised, the bonding should be stronger, isn't it? Like C-F bond is more polar than C-Cl bond, so the fluoroalkane is less reactive than chloroalkane, but why is that acyl chloride, with its very polarised C-Cl bond, so reactive?
And for chlorobenzene, the electrons on halogen atom are delocalised into the benzene ring, causing the polarity of C-X bond to decrease, but why is it that the bond is stronger than haloalkane?
I realize that this is a very long question, thank you for your patience
Both C=O or C-O and C-Cl are polarized, Oxygen does attract e from Carbon towards itself, and so does Chloride, which leaves the positively charged carbon atom to be easily attacked by nucleophiles (e.g water).
 
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