Question

Why do Phenols undergo electrophilic substitution reaction?

Answer 1

Electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions are the reactions where an electrophile replaces one or more hydrogen atoms attached to the aromatic ring. Phenols are highly prone to electrophilic substitution reactions due to rich electron density. The hydroxyl group attached to the aromatic ring in phenol facilitates the effective delocalization of the charge in the aromatic ring. Thus, it stabilizes the arenium ion through resonance. The hydroxyl group also acts as ortho para directors. Hence, we acknowledge most of these substitutions at ortho and para positions only.