Question

is SO3H ortho directing or meta directing

Answer 1

This means that they will be higher in energy (more unstable) than the “meta” carbocation, which is less bad.This is why CF3 is a “meta director” (although I prefer to call groups like CF3 “ortho-para avoiders”. This also applies to other meta directors such as NO2, CN, SO3H, ketones, and so on.it is called SO3H ortho directing or meta directing