Benzene Reactions

Benzene Reactions

1. Nitration (NO2)

   • Electrophile: NO2+
   • Benzene + HNO3 -> nitrobenzene
     • HNO3 + H2SO4 -> NO2+ + HSO4- + H2O
     • Temperature must be below 50 or dinitrobenzene will form

2. Acylation

   • Acyl Group: CH3 - C=O
   • ALCl3 + CH3 - C=O - Cl -> AlCl4- + CH3-C+=O

3. Alkylation

   • Use halogenoalkane with AlCl3 as a halogen carrier to generate the electrophile
   • AlCl3 + CH3Cl -> AlCl4- + CH3+
     • CH3+ = Electrophile
     • AlCl4- + H+ -> AlCl3 +HCl

4. Halogenation

   • Electrophile must be positive
   • Halogen carrier, FeBr3, AlBr3
   • FeBr3 + Br2 -> FeBr4- + Br+
     • Polarises and breaks Br-Br bond
     • FeBr4- + H+ -> FeBr3 +HBr