Question:

Why does benzene undergo electrophilic substitution reactions easily and nucleophilic substitutions with difficulty?

Updated On: Nov 15, 2023
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Solution and Explanation

Benzene is a planar molecule having delocalized electrons above and below the plane of ring. Hence, it is electron-rich. As a result, it is highly attractive to electron deficient species i.e., electrophiles.

Therefore, it undergoes electrophilic substitution reactions very easily. Nucleophiles are electron-rich. Hence, they are repelled by benzene. Hence, benzene undergoes nucleophilic substitutions with difficulty

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Concepts Used:

Aromatic hydrocarbon

Aromatic hydrocarbons, sometimes known as arenes, are aromatic organic molecules made up entirely of carbon and hydrogen. In aromatic compounds a benzene ring which is named after the simple aromatic chemical benzene, or a phenyl group when part of a larger structure, is the configuration of six carbon atoms.

Read More: Aromaticity

Reactions of Aromatic Hydrocarbons:

1. Aromatic Substitution Reactions

This reaction involves the replacement of one substituent on the ring of an aromatic hydrocarbon, commonly a hydrogen atom, by a different substituent group.

The common types of aromatic substitution reactions are:

  • Nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions
  • Electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions
  • Radical nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions

2. Coupling Reactions

In these types of reactions, the coupling of two fragments that have a radical nature is achieved with the help of a metal catalyst