Question

1. why is toluene a stronger nucleophile than benzene?

2.why is phenol a stronger nucleophile than benzene?

Answer 1

1. In Toluene, The -CH_{​​​​3} group attached to benzene is a mild activating group. It

does not make benzene more reactive but only slightly so. methyl group activates the benzene ring towards electrophiles.

2. In Phenols, The -OH group attached to benzene is a highly activating group. The lone pair on oxygen is delocalised into the benzene ring and makes benzene very electron rich. this makes benzene very attractive towards electrophiles. so reaction with electrophilic reagents occur at milder conditions.

In both of the conditions, benzene ring activated by the -CH_{​​​​3} and -OH group and increases the nucleophilic nature of the benzene ring. So that the toluene and phenol is stronger nucleophile than benzene. between toluene and phenol, phenol is stronger nucleophile than toluene.

i hope you will understand well.....thank you ?