19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond

Propose a mechanism for nitration of pyridine at the 4-position, and show why this orientation is not observed.

Before spectroscopy was invented, Körner’s absolute method was used to determine whether a disubstituted benzene derivative was the ortho, meta, or para isomer. Körner’s method involves adding a third group (often a nitro group) and determining how many isomers are formed. For example, when o-xylene is nitrated (by a method shown in Chapter 17), two isomers are formed.

a. How many isomers are formed by nitration of m-xylene?

Before spectroscopy was invented, Körner’s absolute method was used to determine whether a disubstituted benzene derivative was the ortho, meta, or para isomer. Körner’s method involves adding a third group (often a nitro group) and determining how many isomers are formed. For example, when o-xylene is nitrated (by a method shown in Chapter 17), two isomers are formed.

b. How many isomers are formed by nitration of p-xylene?

Before spectroscopy was invented, Körner’s absolute method was used to determine whether a disubstituted benzene derivative was the ortho, meta, or para isomer. Körner’s method involves adding a third group (often a nitro group) and determining how many isomers are formed. For example, when o-xylene is nitrated (by a method shown in Chapter 17), two isomers are formed.

c. A turn-of-the-century chemist isolated an aromatic compound of molecular formula C₆H₄Br₂. He carefully nitrated this compound and purified three isomers of formula C₆H₃Br₂NO₂. Propose structures for the original compound and the three nitrated derivatives

Give the structures of compounds A through B in the following series of reactions.

Predict the major products formed when benzene reacts (just once) with the following reagents.

(j) nitric acid + sulfuric acid

Biphenyl is two benzene rings joined by a single bond. The site of substitution for a biphenyl is determined by (1) which phenyl ring is more activated (or less deactivated), and (2) which position on that ring is most reactive, using the fact that a phenyl substituent is activating and ortho, para-directing.

b. Predict the mononitration products of the following compounds

(i)

Biphenyl is two benzene rings joined by a single bond. The site of substitution for a biphenyl is determined by (1) which phenyl ring is more activated (or less deactivated), and (2) which position on that ring is most reactive, using the fact that a phenyl substituent is activating and ortho, para-directing.

b. Predict the mononitration products of the following compounds

(iii)

(a) Draw the three isomers of benzenedicarboxylic acid.

(b) The isomers have melting points of 210 °C, 343 °C, and 427 °C. Nitration of the isomers at all possible positions was once used to determine their structures. The isomer that melts at 210 °C gives two mononitro isomers. The isomer that melts at 343 °C gives three mononitro isomers. The isomer that melts at 427 °C gives only one mononitro isomer. Show which isomer has which melting point.

What product(s) result from nitration of each of the following?

e. benzenesulfonic acid

f. cyclohexylbenzene

Biphenyl is two benzene rings joined by a single bond. The site of substitution for a biphenyl is determined by (1) which phenyl ring is more activated (or less deactivated), and (2) which position on that ring is most reactive, using the fact that a phenyl substituent is activating and ortho, para-directing.

b. Predict the mononitration products of the following compounds

(ii)