AROMATIC CHEM Flashcards
Benzenoid hydrocarbons
ARENES
ARYL group
derived by removal of a H from the arene
PHENYL group unit
C6H5
BENZYL group unit
C6H5CH2
Benzene structure & bonding
PLANAR HEXAGON Delocalised pi e- cloud 120 C-C equal lengths 140pm sp2 C More stable than predicted
Reactions of benzene
ELECTROPHILIC AROMATIC SUBSTITUTION
Describe the pathway of electrophilic aromatic substitution
E+ attacks - forms a partial bond with C.
WHELAND INTERMEDIATE (C formally bonded to E & H)
H leaves
Formal covalent bond to E+
LOWER ENERGY, THERMODYNAMICALLY FAVOURABLE PRODUCT.
WHELAND INTERMEDIATE
RESONANCE CONTRIBUTORS
Sigma complex
NITRATION of benzene
Warm with HNO3 & H2SO4 forms NITROBENZENE
generation of NO2+ ion
HNO3 + 2 H2SO4 NO2 + H3O+ + 2 HSO4-
Nitration mechanism
NO2+ attacks pi system, forms sigma-complex - loses a H+ -> NITROBENZENE.
SULFONATION conditions
Concentrated H2SO4 at 150 C
SO3 (E+)
Generation of SO3 (E+)
2 H2SO4 SO3 +H3O+ + HSO4-
What is unique about sulfation as an electrophilic substitution?
REVERSIBLE
Lewis Acid catalysts used for halogenation
AlCl3 or FeCl3 for chlorine
FeBr3 for bromine