Question

What is a benzylic carbon atom?

Answer 1

Hint :The word benzylic is used to describe the position of the first carbon atom bonded to a benzene ring or any other aromatic ring. Simply, a benzylic position in a molecule is the position next to a benzene ring. The carbons present in the ring are called phenyl carbons and the hydrogens that are attached to those phenyl carbons form phenyl $C-H$bonds. The carbon which is adjacent to the ring is called the benzylic carbon and the hydrogens attached to those benzylic carbons are called benzylic hydrogens.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
A benzylic carbon is a saturated carbon atom that resides on an aryl group in an organic species. A group on a carbon which is adjacent to a benzene ring or a substituted benzene ring is called a benzylic group. The protons that are bonded directly to an alkene carbon are called vinylic protons. The benzylic position is very reactive because of the resonance stabilization of the benzylic carbon regardless of whether the reaction goes through a radical or ionic mechanism. The reactive nature of the benzylic position makes it a useful synthetic tool for the preparation of many aromatic compounds.

Note :
Benzylic carbocations are very stable because they have four resonance structures. This helps in sharing the burden of charge over four different atoms. This makes it the most stable carbocation. The benzylic carbocation becomes more and more stable by increasing the substitution.