Which of the following compounds undergoes electrophilic substitution more readi

Which of the following compounds undergoes electrophilic substitution more readily?

Which of the following compounds undergoes electrophilic substitution more readily?

Step 1: Understand what electrophilic substitution is. It is a reaction where an electrophile replaces a hydrogen atom in an aromatic compound.
Step 2: Identify the compounds in the question. We are comparing toluene and benzene.
Step 3: Know the structure of toluene. Toluene has a methyl group (CH3) attached to a benzene ring.
Step 4: Understand the role of the methyl group. The methyl group is an electron-donating group, which means it can push electrons towards the benzene ring.
Step 5: Recognize the effect of electron donation. The electron-donating effect of the methyl group stabilizes the positive charge (carbocation) that forms during the electrophilic substitution reaction.
Step 6: Compare the stability of the carbocation intermediates. Toluene's carbocation is more stable than benzene's because of the methyl group's electron-donating effect.
Step 7: Conclude that since toluene's carbocation is more stable, toluene undergoes electrophilic substitution more readily than benzene.

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