Chemistry · Friedel-Craft's alkylation and acylation, directive influence of the functional group in mono-substituted benzene
Which of the following compounds will not undergo Friedel-Craft reaction easily?
Which of the following compounds will not undergo Friedel-Craft reaction easily?
- A. cumene
- B. xylene
- C. nitrobenzene
- D. toluene
Step-by-step solution
Friedel-Crafts reactions are electrophilic aromatic substitutions that require the aromatic ring to be sufficiently electron-rich to attack the electrophile. Nitrobenzene contains a strong electron-withdrawing nitro group, which deactivates the ring and makes it resistant to electrophilic substitution. In contrast, cumene, xylene, and toluene have electron-donating alkyl groups that activate the ring, allowing Friedel-Crafts reactions to proceed easily.