Question

Nitration of an aromatic ring involves an electrophilic substitution reaction. Draw the structure of the electrophile that attacks the aromatic ring and the intermediate formed after attachment of the electrophile to the ring. Be sure to show formal charges.

 

Answer 1

Concepts and reason

This problem is based on the concept of nitration reaction of aromatic compounds.

Nitration reaction of aromatic compounds is an electrophilic substitution reaction. In which the substitution takes place at aromatic ring in order to form nitro compounds. This reaction is carried out in the presence of nitric acid and sulfuric acid.

Fundamentals

In this reaction, nitric acid and sulfuric acid react in order to from a stronger electrophile called nitronium ion which on reaction with benzene gives a cation intermediate. This intermediate on deprotonation results in the formation of nitrobenzene.

The reaction of nitric acid and sulfuric acid is given below:

The nitration reaction of benzene and nitronium ion is given below:

Ans:

The electrophile of the nitration reaction of aromatic compound is given below:

The structure of intermediate is as follows: