Why does benzene undergo electrophilic substitution more easily than nucleophilic substitution?
Answers
Benzene has delocalized electrons .Hence, it is electron rich . As a result it is highly attractive to electrophiles.
When an electrophile attaches itself to a benzene ring, a carbocation intermediate is formed.
If the carbocation intermediate formed from the reaction of benzene with an electrophile were to react similarly with a nucleophile the addition product would not be aromatic.
If the carbocation loses a proton from the site of electrophilic attack the aromaticity of the benzene ring is restored.
Because the aromatic product is much more stablethan the nonaromatic addition product, the overall reaction is an electrophilic substitution reaction rather than an electrophilic addition reaction.
Explanation:
Due to presence of delocalised 6π - electrons benzene acts as rich source of electrons. So,it attract the electrophillic reagent towards itself but repels the nucleophillic reagents. That's why benzene gives electrophillic substitution reactions with difficulty.
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