Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS)
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution is a fundamental reaction in organic chemistry where an electrophile replaces a hydrogen atom on an aromatic ring. The reactivity of the aromatic compound is influenced by the nature of substituents already present on the ring, which can either activate or deactivate the ring towards further substitution.
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Activating and Deactivating Groups
Substituents on an aromatic ring can be classified as activating or deactivating based on their electronic effects. Activating groups, such as -OH or -OCH3, increase the electron density of the ring, making it more reactive towards electrophiles. In contrast, deactivating groups, like -NO2 or -Cl, withdraw electron density, reducing reactivity.
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Activating and deactivating groups
Resonance and Inductive Effects
Resonance and inductive effects are key to understanding how substituents influence the reactivity of aromatic compounds. Resonance involves the delocalization of electrons across the aromatic system, while inductive effects refer to the electron-withdrawing or donating ability of substituents through sigma bonds. These effects determine the stability of the carbocation intermediate formed during EAS.
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Understanding the Inductive Effect.