Which of the following compounds is least reactive towards electrophilic substitution?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
Which of the following compounds is least reactive towards electrophilic substitution?
Benzene
Toluene
Nitrobenzene
Anisole
Nitrobenzene is least reactive towards electrophilic substitution due to the strong electron-withdrawing effect of the nitro group, which deactivates the ring.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: Which of the following compounds is least reactive towards electrophilic substitution?
Solution: Nitrobenzene is least reactive towards electrophilic substitution due to the strong electron-withdrawing effect of the nitro group, which deactivates the ring.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand what electrophilic substitution means. It is a reaction where an electrophile replaces a hydrogen atom in a benzene ring.
Step 2: Identify the compounds given in the question. Look for the one that has a nitro group (-NO2) attached to the benzene ring.
Step 3: Know that the nitro group is an electron-withdrawing group. This means it pulls electrons away from the benzene ring.
Step 4: Realize that when a group withdraws electrons, it makes the benzene ring less reactive towards electrophiles.
Step 5: Compare the reactivity of the compounds. The one with the nitro group will be the least reactive because it is deactivated by the strong electron-withdrawing effect.
