Reaction Mechanism in Aromatic hydrocarbons Batch: 2nd Semester Prof Reaction Mechanism in Aromatic hydrocarbons Batch: 2nd Semester Prof. Firdoos Ahmad Itoo

Learning Objective Give examples of the types of reactions that aromatic compounds typically undergo

Key Points Aromatic compounds or arenes undergo substitution reactions, in which the aromatic hydrogen is replaced with an electrophile, hence their reactions proceed via electrophilic substitution. Arenes contain double bonds just like alkenes but they do not undergo electrophilic addition because these would result to their loss of ring aromaticity. The order of substitution on aromatic compounds is governed by the nature of substituents present in the aromatic ring. In electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions, a carbocation is generated while in nucleophilic aromatic substitutions, a carboanion is generated. Hydrogenation reactions convert aromatic compounds into saturated compounds. Metal cross-coupling such as Suzuki reaction allows formation of carbon-carbon bonds between two or more aromatic compounds.

Terms Nucleophile: A compound or functional group that is attractive to centers of positive charge and donates electrons; donates an electron pair to an electrophile to form a bond. hydrogenationThe chemical reaction of hydrogen with another substance, especially with an unsaturated organic compound, and usually under the influence of temperature, pressure, and catalysts. Electrophile: A compound or functional group that is attractive to, and accepts electrons; accepts an electron pair from a nucleophile to form a bond.

Aromatic Substitution An example of an aromatic substitution reaction as shown here on the white board represents that presence of strong sulfuric and nitric acid, a nitro group can be added to the ring. Also aromatic substitution reaction shown to you (white board) is an example of an aromatic substitution reaction. The double bond attacks the NO2 cation, then a proton (hydrogen cation) is lost to re-aromatize the system.

Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitutions: In a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction, a nucleophile displaces a substituent on an aromatic ring. The replaced species is typically a good leaving group, like nitrogen gas or a halide ion. The presence of an electron-withdrawing group on the ring can speed up the progress of this class of reactions. Chemically, this is similar to an addition reaction to a Michael acceptor or other electron-deficient, unsaturated system, followed by an elimination reaction.

Electrophilic Aromatic Substitutions: (Please have a look on white board ) In an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction, a substituent on an aromatic ring is displaced by an electrophile. These reactions include aromatic nitration, aromatic halogenation, aromatic sulfonation, and Friedel-Crafts acylations and alkylations. These reactions can involve a resonance-stabilized carbocation intermediate known as a sigma complex. The reactivity can be thought of in terms of an alkene attacking a cationic species, such as in the first step of an acid-catalyzed hydration of an alkene. A number of patterns have been observed regarding the reaction of substituted benzene rings. These observations have been generalized to provide a predictive rule for electrophilic aromatic substitutions. It states that an electron-donating substituent generally accelerates substitution and directs reactivity toward the positions that are ortho and para to it on the ring, while an electron-withdrawing substituent will slow reaction progress and favor the meta position on the ring.

Electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS)This reaction mechanism takes place from bottom to top. EAS occurs ortho or para to electron donating groups, such as amines, due to the stabilization of the intermediate positive charge. The four structures drawn in the middle of the diagram are all resonance structures. Due to the electrons provided by the NH2 group, this intermediate is stabilized, and the para-substitution is favored. As an exercise, draw out the stabilization of the positive charge when ortho substitution occurs.

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