ELECTROPHILIC AROMATIC SUBSTITUION REACTION
OF BENZENE
Definition:
Electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions are organic reactions where an
electrophile replaces an atom which is attached to an aromatic ring. Commonly,
these reactions involve the replacement of a hydrogen atom belonging to a benzene
ring with an electrophile.
The aromaticity of the aromatic system is preserved in an electrophilic
aromatic substitution reaction. For example, when bromobenzene is formed from
the reaction between benzene and bromine, the stability of the aromatic ring is not
lost.
There are many types of electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions, the most
important of which include:
• Aromatic nitration reactions
• Electrophilic aromatic halogenation reactions
• Aromatic sulfonation reactions
• Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction
• Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction
AROMATIC NITRATION REACTION
• Nitration reaction involves the replacement of a hydrogen with a nitro (NO2)
group.
• Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is used as a catalyst in this process.
