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Q9.23:
Out of benzene, $m$-dinitrobenzene and toluene which will undergo nitration most easily and why?

Solution :

Step 1: Analyzing the Electronic Effects of Substituents

Nitration is an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction. The rate of the reaction is governed by the electron density of the benzene ring. Substituents that increase electron density (activating groups) facilitate the attack of the electrophile ($NO_2^+$), while substituents that decrease electron density (deactivating groups) hinder it.

  • Benzene ($C_6H_6$): The reference compound with uniform electron density.
  • Toluene ($C_6H_5CH_3$): The methyl group ($-CH_3$) is an electron-donating group. It exerts this effect via two mechanisms:
    • Inductive Effect ($+I$ effect): The alkyl group releases electrons toward the ring.
    • Hyperconjugation: The $\sigma$-electrons of the $C-H$ bonds in the methyl group delocalize into the $\pi$-system of the ring.
    [Per the Electronic Displacement Effects theory, these combined effects increase electron density at the ortho and para positions, activating the ring toward electrophilic substitution.]
  • m-Dinitrobenzene ($C_6H_4(NO_2)_2$): The nitro group ($-NO_2$) is a strong electron-withdrawing group via both:
    • Negative Inductive Effect ($-I$): Electronegativity of nitrogen and oxygen pulls electrons away from the ring.
    • Negative Mesomeric Effect ($-M$): Delocalization of $\pi$-electrons toward the $NO_2$ group reduces overall electron density.
    [Per the Electrophilic Substitution Mechanism, the presence of two highly deactivating $-NO_2$ groups significantly depletes the ring's electron density, rendering it resistant to electrophilic attack.]

Step 2: Comparative Reactivity Profile

Compound Substituent Effect Ring Activation Status
Toluene $+I$ and Hyperconjugation Activated (More reactive than benzene)
Benzene None (Reference) Neutral
m-Dinitrobenzene $-I$ and $-M$ Strongly Deactivated (Less reactive than benzene)

Step 3: Visual Representation of Substituent Effects

Toluene (Activated) Benzene Ring CH3 e- donor (+I) m-Dinitrobenzene (Deactivated) NO2 e- withdrawer (-I, -M)

Step 4: Conclusion

The reactivity order for electrophilic nitration is dictated by the availability of electron density for the incoming electrophile. Since the methyl group in toluene increases electron density through hyperconjugation and inductive effects, it activates the ring. Conversely, the two nitro groups in m-dinitrobenzene strongly withdraw electron density, deactivating the ring.

Final Solution: Toluene will undergo nitration most easily because the methyl group is an electron-donating group that increases the electron density of the benzene ring, making it more susceptible to electrophilic attack compared to benzene and m-dinitrobenzene.


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