Question

Chloro benzene and acetyl chloride react with anhydrous AlCl\(_3\), to form 4-chloroacetophenone. The reaction is an example of:

• A. Nucleophilic substitution
• B. Nucleophilic addition
• C. Electrophilic substitution
• D.

Hint:

In electrophilic substitution reactions, an electrophile (such as acetyl cation) attacks the electron-rich aromatic ring, replacing a hydrogen atom with a new substituent.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The reaction of chloro benzene with acetyl chloride in the presence of anhydrous AlCl\(_3\) is an example of electrophilic substitution. In this reaction, AlCl\(_3\) acts as a catalyst and facilitates the substitution of a hydrogen atom on the benzene ring with an acetyl group (-COCH\(_3\)), resulting in the formation of 4-chloroacetophenone. - Nucleophilic substitution involves the replacement of a leaving group by a nucleophile, which is not the mechanism here. - Nucleophilic addition involves the addition of a nucleophile to a carbonyl group, which is also not the mechanism here. Thus, the correct answer is electrophilic substitution, where the acetyl group is electrophilic and substitutes a hydrogen atom on the aromatic ring.