What is the major product of the electrophilic substitution of toluene with brom
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the major product of the electrophilic substitution of toluene with bromine in the presence of FeBr3?
Bromotoluene
Bromobenzene
Benzyl bromide
No reaction
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the major product of the electrophilic substitution of toluene with bromine in the presence of FeBr3?
Step 1: Identify the starting material, which is toluene (C7H8). Toluene has a benzene ring with a methyl group (CH3) attached.
Step 2: Recognize that toluene is more reactive than benzene because the methyl group donates electrons to the benzene ring, making it easier for the ring to react.
Step 3: Understand that the reaction involves electrophilic substitution, where bromine (Br2) is the electrophile and FeBr3 is a catalyst that helps generate the active bromine species.
Step 4: The electrophilic bromine attacks the benzene ring, replacing one hydrogen atom with a bromine atom. This forms bromotoluene.
Step 5: Determine the major product. Since the methyl group is ortho/para directing, the bromine will most likely attach to the carbon that is either next to the methyl group (ortho position) or directly across from it (para position).
Step 6: Conclude that the major product of the reaction is bromotoluene, specifically the para-bromotoluene, due to steric factors.
