Comparing Rate of Hydrolysis of Acyl halides

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/jOlEz.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/jOlEz.jpg)


In this particular question, my answer is (D) as steric hinderance is minimum there, but answer (B) was given due to the electron withdrawing (**-M**) effect of the nitro group.


Isn't steric hinderance the dominating factor in nucleophilic addition type reactions? Is it that a planar phenyl ring doesn't offer that much steric hinderance?




The high reactivity of acyl chlorides towards nucleophilic attack is due to the highly polarised situation of the carbon-oxygen/chlorine bonds i.e.


[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/e0Lnz.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/e0Lnz.png)


As you have mentioned due to the phenyl ring being planar, the steric hindrance does not overpower the polarising thing.


Now on comparing the reactions **-NO$\_2$** group's **-M** effect will be the most successful to make the carbon-oxygen/chlorine bonds more polar as compared to **methyl's +I** effect.


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