So im suppossed to 'Explain using a short paragraph and / or diagrams why the carbocation that leads to 1-phenylethanol is preferred to the one that leads to 2-phenylethanol.' THis was the answer (attachment)...... I wanna know why Resonance stability is so important so to the fact that it influences the major product of a reaction (1-phenylethanol) rather than 2-phenylethanol

Question

So im suppossed to 'Explain using a short paragraph and / or diagrams why the carbocation that leads to 1-phenylethanol is preferred to the one that leads to 2-phenylethanol.'        THis was the answer (attachment)...... I wanna know why Resonance stability is so important so to the fact that it influences the major product of a reaction (1-phenylethanol) rather than 2-phenylethanol

anonymous · Answer

attachment

aaronq · Answer

the carbon the -OH group is on in 1-phenylethanol is a secondary carbon the one in 2-phenylethanol is a primary carbocation carbocation stability tertiary>secondary>primary http://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/03/11/3-factors-that-stabilize-carbocations/