Skip to main content
8 of 8
spacing was weird
Melanie Shebel
  • 6.8k
  • 10
  • 48
  • 88

Ortho-effect in substituted aromatic acids and bases

2-methylaniline  2-methylbenzoic acid

When comparing o,m,p-toluidine basicities, the ortho effect is believed to explain why o-toluidine is weaker. But when comparing o,m,p-toluic acid basicities, the ortho effect is stated as a reason why o-toluic acid is stronger acid. I was told that the ortho effect is a phenomenon in which an ortho- group causes steric hindrance, forcing the $\ce{-COOH}$, $\ce{-NH2}$ or some other bulky group to move out of the plane, inhibiting resonance. Then, if the ortho effect inhibits resonance, why is o-toluic acid the strongest and o-toluidine the weakest?

Where am I going wrong in my understanding of the ortho effect?

user4114
  • 949
  • 1
  • 8
  • 5