SIR,
Which xylenes are thermodynamically most stable?
ortho, para, or meta?

Dear Student,

From ortho, para and meta-xylene, meta-xylene is the most stable.

m-xylene is more thermodynamically controlled product, whereas the other two are kinematically controlled product.

Methyl is an ortho-para directing group.
In ortho and para-xylene, electron density becomes high due to +R effect of methyl group, whereas this is not seen in the case of meta-xylene.

Thus, m-xylene is more stable.

Hope it helps.

Regards

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