Chapter 25 Aromatic Chemistry Flashcards
What is the molecular formula of Benzene?
C6H6
What is the empirical formula of Benzene?
CH
Describe Kekulés model of Benzene
The structure of Benzene was based on six membered ring of carbon atoms joined by alternating single and double bonds.
Explain the evidence that led to the development of the delocalised model of Benzene
Expectations of Kekule model:
-Reactive and be able to undergo Electrophilic addition—> eg, decolourise orange Bromine water
-Alternating carbon to carbon bond lengths as C—C are longer than C==C, resulting in a irregular hexagon
-The enthalpy change of Hydrogenation to be three times that of cyclohexene. The enthalpy change of hydrogenation for cyclohexene is -120KJmol-, therefore the enthalpy change for Benzene was expected to be -360KJmol-
Actual
-Benzene was unreactive and could only undergo substitution reactions in the presence of a catalyst.
Eg, reacts with Br in presence of halogen carrier catalyst
-The Carbon to carbon bonds were all the same length resulting in a regular hexagon, therefore the Carbon- carbon bonds are intermediate between
C—C and C==C.
-The enthalpy change of hydrogenation was much lower than expected —> -208KJmol-
Therefore the enthalpy change of hydrogenation of Benzene was less exothermic than expected
Describe the delocalised structure of Benzene
Each Carbon atom has an electron in a p orbital
The adjacent p orbitals overlap sideways forming π bonds
The electrons in the π bonds become delocalised leading to a delocalised π bond system above and below the plane of the ring containing 6 delocalised electrons.
How are aromatic compounds with one substituent group named?
The Benzene ring is considered to be the parent chain.
Alkyl, nitro and halogen groups are all considered to be the prefixes.
How are aromatic compounds named when benzene is the substituent?
When the Benzene ring is attached to an alkyl chain with a functional group or to an alkyl chain with seven or more carbon atoms, the prefix phenyl is used.
How are aromatic compounds with two substituent groups named?
The ring is numbered, starting with one of the substituent groups.
The substituent groups are listed in alphabetical order using the smallest numbers possible.
What mechanism does Benzene undertake?
Electrophilic substitution
What are the different Electrophilic substitution reactions of Benzene?
-Nitration
-Halogenation
-Alkylation
-Acylation
Describe how Benzene undergoes Electrophilic substitution
A pair of electrons leaves the delocalised system to form a bond to the electrophile
This disrupts the stable delocalised system and therefore forms an unstable intermediate
To restore stability, the pair of electrons in the C-H moves back into the ring
There is an overall substitution of hydrogen
What are the conditions required for the nitration of Benzene?
Concentrated sulfuric acid
Heated to 50 degrees
What are the reagents required for the nitration of Benzene?
Benzene reacts with concentrated nitric acid
What is the overall equation for the nitration of Benzene?
C6H6 + HNO3 —> C6H5NO2 + H2O
What is mononitration?
When a single nitro group is substituted onto Benzene
What is polynitration?
When multiple nitro groups are substituted onto the benzene ring following a temperature rise that exceeds 50 degrees
What is the problem of polynitration?
Can create potentially explosive products
What is an electrophile?
Electron pair acceptor
What is the equation for the production of the Nitronium electrophile used in nitration?
HNO3 + H2SO4 —> NO2^+ + HSO4^- + H2O
What is the equation for the regeneration of the catalyst used in nitration?
H^+ + HSO4^- —> H2SO4
What are the conditions required for the halogenation of Benzene?
Reflux in the presence of a halogen carrier
(AlCl3/ AlBr3 / FeCl3/ FeBr3- the halogen carrier used must be the same as the halogen in the mechanism)
What are the reagents required for the halogenation of Benzene?
Benzene is reacted with a halogen in the presence of a halogen carrier catalyst
What is the overall equation for the chlorination of Benzene?
C6H6 + Cl2 ——> C6H5Cl + HCl
What is the equation for the production of the chloronium electrophile used in the chlorination of benzene?
AlCl3 + Cl2 —> AlCl4^- + Cl^+
Or
FeCl3 + Cl2 —> FeCl4^- + Cl^+
What is the equation for the regeneration of the catalyst used in halogenation?
FeCl4^- + H^+ —> FeCl3 + HCl
AlCl4^- + H^+ —> AlCl3 + HCl
FeBr4^- + H^+ —> FeBr3 + HBr
AlBr4^- + H^+ —> AlBr3 + HBr
What is the Alkylation of Benzene?
Substitution of a Hydrogen atom in the Benzene ring with an alkyl group- eg, methyl CH3, ethyl C2H5 to produce an alkyl Arene