Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution
Electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) is a fundamental reaction in organic chemistry where an electrophile replaces a hydrogen atom on an aromatic ring. Aniline, which contains an amino group (-NH2) that is a strong activating group, undergoes EAS readily. Understanding this mechanism is crucial for converting aniline to bromobenzene and iodobenzene, as it involves the introduction of halogens onto the aromatic ring.
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Halogenation of Aromatic Compounds
Halogenation is a specific type of electrophilic aromatic substitution where halogens (like bromine or iodine) are introduced to an aromatic compound. In the case of converting aniline to bromobenzene or iodobenzene, the reaction typically requires a halogen source (Br2 or I2) and a catalyst (like FeBr3 or I2) to facilitate the substitution. The choice of halogen and conditions affects the reaction's selectivity and yield.
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Deactivation of the Amino Group
While the amino group in aniline is a strong activating group for EAS, it can also lead to over-substitution or unwanted side reactions. To convert aniline to bromobenzene or iodobenzene, it may be necessary to temporarily deactivate the amino group, often by converting it to a less reactive form, such as an acetanilide. This step helps control the reaction conditions and ensures that only one halogen is introduced to the aromatic ring.
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Activating and deactivating groups