What is the stereochemical outcome of the electrophilic substitution of 1,2-dimethylbenzene (o-xylene) at the 4-position?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the stereochemical outcome of the electrophilic substitution of 1,2-dimethylbenzene (o-xylene) at the 4-position?
Only one product is formed.
Two products are formed, one being a racemic mixture.
Only one enantiomer is formed.
No reaction occurs.
Only one product is formed when 1,2-dimethylbenzene is substituted at the 4-position, as the two methyl groups are in positions that do not create stereoisomers.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the stereochemical outcome of the electrophilic substitution of 1,2-dimethylbenzene (o-xylene) at the 4-position?
Solution: Only one product is formed when 1,2-dimethylbenzene is substituted at the 4-position, as the two methyl groups are in positions that do not create stereoisomers.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Identify the compound - We are looking at 1,2-dimethylbenzene, also known as o-xylene.
Step 2: Understand the structure - o-xylene has two methyl groups attached to the benzene ring at the 1 and 2 positions.
Step 3: Determine the substitution position - We are focusing on the 4-position of the benzene ring for electrophilic substitution.
Step 4: Visualize the substitution - When a substituent replaces a hydrogen at the 4-position, it does not affect the positions of the existing methyl groups.
Step 5: Analyze stereochemistry - The two methyl groups are in positions that do not create different spatial arrangements (stereoisomers) when a new group is added at the 4-position.
Step 6: Conclude the outcome - Only one product is formed because the arrangement of the methyl groups does not lead to stereoisomers.
