Which of the following compounds undergoes electrophilic substitution most readily?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
Which of the following compounds undergoes electrophilic substitution most readily?
Toluene
Benzene
Nitrobenzene
Chlorobenzene
Toluene undergoes electrophilic substitution most readily due to the electron-donating effect of the methyl group, which activates the benzene ring.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: Which of the following compounds undergoes electrophilic substitution most readily?
Solution: Toluene undergoes electrophilic substitution most readily due to the electron-donating effect of the methyl group, which activates the benzene ring.
Steps: 7
Step 1: Understand what electrophilic substitution is. 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 toluene and other possible compounds.
Step 3: Know that toluene is a benzene ring with a methyl group attached to it.
Step 4: Recognize that the methyl group is an electron-donating group. This means it helps to increase the electron density of the benzene ring.
Step 5: Understand that a higher electron density on the benzene ring makes it more reactive towards electrophiles.
Step 6: Compare toluene with other compounds. If they have groups that withdraw electrons, they will be less reactive than toluene.
Step 7: Conclude that toluene undergoes electrophilic substitution most readily because the methyl group activates the benzene ring.
