Question

iii) out of benzene. Metadinitrobenzene and toluene which will undergo nitration most easily and why?

Answer 1

Hi there !

Here's the answer-

Addition of nitro group or Simply we can say Nitration is an electrophilic subsitituiton on the aromatic ring .

Nitronium ion will act as electrophile and will attack on the most electron rich species .

Out of the 3 options , due to the presence of methyl group as electron releasing group, it will increase the electron density of the system thereby activating it towards the attack .

Therefore, Toluene will undergo nitration very easily and Meta dinitrobenzene will go last as it will behave as a deactivated system due to the presence of 2 nitro group which are electron withdrawing groups.

Hope it helped.