Question:

In the following compound,

the favourable site/s for protonation is/are :

Show Hint

Protonation occurs where a lone pair is available and not delocalised: the pyridine-type sp2 nitrogens, not the amino N or the pyrrole-type N-H.
Updated On: Nov 5, 2026
  • (b), (c) and (d)
  • (a) and (e)
  • (a) and (d)
  • (a)
Show Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The compound is adenine (a purine) with five nitrogen atoms labelled (a)-(e).
(a) -NH2: its lone pair is delocalised into the ring (amidine-type resonance), so it is non-basic.
(e) N-H (pyrrole-type): its lone pair is part of the aromatic sextet, so it is non-basic.
(b), (c), (d): pyridine-type sp2 nitrogens with the lone pair in the plane of the ring, not involved in aromaticity, hence available for protonation.
Favourable sites: (b), (c) and (d).
Answer: (1) (b), (c) and (d)
Was this answer helpful?
0
0