15 & 16)
C6H6 is an unusually stable molecule that does NOT react like alkenes do
A model was proposed by Kekule in 1865:
Meta = 1,3-disubstituted
Para = 1,4-disubstituted
Molecular orbital theory predicts that the six unhybridized p orbitals in benzene will
combine to form three bonding and three antibonding orbitals as shown below. Because
benzene has 6 pi electrons, only the bonding MOs fill. This results in unusual stability.
Adding or removing pi electrons would decrease stability.
Heterocyclic molecules in which a different atoms replaces one of the C in the ring
(Ex: pyridine)
Pyridine
Phenol is weakly acidic (pKa = 9.95) due to resonance-stabilized conj. base (phenoxide)
Anilines are only weakly basic compared to nonaromatic amines because the nonprotonated form has greater resonance-stabilization.
In general, electron-withdrawing groups on the ring lower the pKa of benzoic acids,
phenols, and protonated amines; the stronger the deactivator, the lower the pKa
Pharmacological effects: Antiinflammatories/analgesics
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)
Ibuprofen
Naproxen
N
CH3
Benzo[a]pyrene
Y+
B:
HB
Y
resonance-stabilized
carbocation
Y replaced by electrophilic
Hydrogens are easily
Y
substituent groups; in fact, ease of substitution is a good test for aromaticity
Functionalization of benzene:
The most common electrophilic substitutions can also be used synthetically to provide
starting points for preparation of other derivatives:
1. Halogenation: benzene
2. Nitration:
benzene
nitrobenzene
3. Sulfonation:
benzene
benzenesulfonic acid
4. Friedel-Crafts acylation:
benzene
5. Friedel-Crafts alkylation:
benzene
toluene
phenols
Dowex resins
alkyl benzenes
benzoic acid
1) Halogenations
FeCl3 can be used to generate an electrophilic
halogen cation from either Br2 or Cl2:
Br - Br + FeCl3
Br 2, FeCl3
Br + + -FeCl3Br
Br
Cl2, FeCl3
Cl
Iodine cation is produced by reaction with a strong oxidizer such as nitric acid or Cu2+:
I2
HNO3
2 I+
I2 + 2 Cu2+
+ 2 e-
I 2, CuCl2
2 I+ + 2Cu+
2) Nitration: Electrophile is a nitronium ion generated from nitric & sulfuric acids:
HNO3
+ H2SO4
H2SO 4, HNO 3
NO 2
3) Sulfonation/desulfonation:
The electrophile is +SO3H, generated from fuming sulfuric acid:
H3O + + SO3
O = S = O + H2O
OH
f uming H2 SO4
SO3 H
heat, dilute acid
1) NaOH
2) H 3O+
OH
R - Cl + AlCl3
[ R - C = O:
R+ + -AlCl4
R - C = O: ] +
-AlCl4
+ H3C C
1. AlCl3
Cl
2. H 2O
O
C
CH 3
+ Al(OH)3 + 3 HCl
Reductions:
Nitrobenzene to aniline:
NO 2
OH
H 3O+
Wolff-Kishner reduction:
O
SnCl2, H+
NH 2
OH-
H2NN2H
C
CH3
product of nitration
NaOH
H2
C
CH 3
Friedel-Crafts product
Oxidations:
CH 3
KMnO 4
COOH
H3O+
Friedel-Crafts product
NH 2
CF3 CO 3H
NO 2
SN2 reactions: Substitution at the benzylic carbon is versatile route to modify groups
1. The benzylic hydrogen is replaced by NBS in a radical substitution
2. The Br can be replaced by nucleophile in SN2 reaction to give new substituent
NBS
CH 3
CH 2
Br
NaOH
Gilman
CN-
CH 2
CH 2
OH
CN
C CH2 CH 3
H2
Inductive effects:
1) Electron-rich groups donate electrons inductively through the bond to the
benzene ring, making the ring more reactive
Ex: alkyl groups
2) Electron-withdrawing or positively-charged groups remove electron density
through the bond to make the ring less reactive
Ex: -F, -Cl, -Br, -I
-NO2, -CN, -carbonyls, NH3+
Resonance effects:
1) Groups with nonbonding electron pairs on the attached atom donate electron
density through resonance with benzenes bonding system:
Ex: -OH, -NH2, -OR, -Cl and other halogens
2) Groups with bonds on the atom attached to the ring can withdraw electrons from
the ring through resonance
Ex: -NO2, -CN, -COOH, -COOR, -CHO, -COR
Strong deactivators
Weak deactivators
Strong activators
Problems
CH 3
AlCl3
HNO3
KMnO4
O2N
CH 3
H 2 SO 4
H 3O+
O2N
COOH
p-chlorophenol
CH 3
Cl2, FeCl3
Cl
OH
A strong activator will be the major director over a weaker activator or a deactivator.
Groups with equal activating ability but conflicting positions produce mixtures.