Electrophilic Substitution of Benzene
What catalyst is required for bromination of benzene?
AlBr₃
What type of reaction occurs when methylbenzene reacts with Cl₂ and AlCl₃?
Electrophilic substitution
What type of reaction do halogenoalkanes commonly undergo with nucleophiles?
Nucleophilic substitution
What electrophile attacks benzene during chlorination?
Cl⁺
What catalyst is used in chlorination of methylbenzene?
Anhydrous aluminium chloride (AlCl₃)
Why is the carbon atom in a halogenoalkane electrophilic?
The C–X bond is polar, giving carbon a δ⁺ charge
What catalyst is required for chlorination of benzene?
AlCl₃
What electrophile is generated from Br₂ and AlBr₃?
Br⁺
Why are halogenoarenes less reactive than halogenoalkanes in nucleophilic substitution?
The C–X bond has partial double-bond character due to interaction with the benzene π system
Write the equation for bromination of benzene.
C₆H₆ + Br₂ → C₆H₅Br + HBr (AlBr₃ catalyst)
What are the major products of chlorination of methylbenzene?
2-chloromethylbenzene and 4-chloromethylbenzene
Explain why chlorobenzene does not readily react with aqueous NaOH at room temperature.
The strong C–Cl bond and partial double-bond character make nucleophilic attack difficult