The -R effect refers to the resonance electron-donating effect. It is typically observed when groups with lone pairs of electrons, such as -CN (cyanide), donate electron density through resonance to the attached carbon. This makes the group a resonance donor, and the effect is called the -R effect (negative resonance effect).
- -CN: The cyanide group is a strong electron-withdrawing group via induction, but it also has a resonance donation of electrons, showing -R effect.
- \(\text{OCOCH}_3\): This group can show both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating effects but is more commonly an electron-withdrawing group via induction.
Thus, the correct answer is -CN.