a lower yield of phosphonium salt is obtained in refluxing benzene than in xylene.
The difference in yield of a phosphonium salt obtained by refluxing benzene compared to xylene can be attributed to their varying reactivity and ability to act as a solvent for the reaction.
When a reaction is carried out under reflux, it means that it is heated and the vapors are continuously condensed and returned to the reaction vessel. In this case, the reaction involves the formation of a phosphonium salt.
Benzene is a relatively unreactive solvent due to its aromatic nature. It does not readily participate in reactions and does not have strong nucleophilic or electrophilic properties. Because of this, when benzene is used as a solvent in the reaction, it may not effectively facilitate the formation of the desired phosphonium salt. This can result in a lower yield of the product.
On the other hand, xylene is a more reactive solvent compared to benzene. It has greater nucleophilic and electrophilic properties, making it more capable of participating in reactions. This increased reactivity allows xylene to effectively facilitate the formation of the phosphonium salt. Consequently, using xylene as a solvent in the reaction can result in a higher yield of the product.
It is important to note that the choice of solvent can significantly influence the outcome of a reaction, including the yield of the desired product. In this specific case, xylene proves more favorable for obtaining a higher yield of the phosphonium salt compared to benzene.