Which one of the carbocations from the following is most stable?
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Answer
(3) [figure]
Solution
+M of the O lone pair stabilises a cation; -I of F or C=O destabilises it.
(C): O is on the allyl system extra resonance form, all atoms with octet:
[figure] [figure]
(A) O not conjugated; (B) lone pair shared with C=O; (D) strong -I of F.
Answer: (3)