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[SIZE="5"][COLOR="Magenta"]Substitution Reactions of Benzene Derivatives[/COLOR][/SIZE]
Substituted rings are divided into two groups based on the type of the substituent that the ring carries:
[LIST][*]Activated rings: the substituents on the ring are groups that donate electrons. [*] Deactivated rings: the substituents on the ring are groups that withdraw electrons[/LIST][SIZE="5"]Introduction
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Examples of activating groups in the relative order from the most activating group to the least activating:

-NH2, -NR2 > -OH, -OR> -NHCOR> -CH3 and other alkyl groups

with R as alkyl groups (CnH2n+1)

Examples of deactivating groups in the relative order from the most deactivating to the least deactivating:

-NO2, -CF3> -COR, -CN, -CO2R, -SO3H > Halogens

with R as alkyl groups (CnH2n+1)

The order of reactivity among Halogens from the more reactive (least deactivating substituent) to the least reactive (most deactivating substituent) halogen is:

F> Cl > Br > I

The order of reactivity of the benzene rings toward the electrophilic substitution when it is substituted with a halogen groups, follows the order of electronegativity. The ring that is substituted with the most electronegative halogen is the most reactive ring ( less deactivating substituent ) and the ring that is substituted with the least electronegatvie halogen is the least reactive ring ( more deactivating substituent ), when we compare rings with halogen substituents. Also the size of the halogen effects the reactivity of the benzene ring that the halogen is attached to. As the size of the halogen increase, the reactivity of the ring decreases.

[SIZE="5"]The direction of the reaction[/SIZE]
The activating group directs the reaction to the ortho or para position, which means the electrophile substitute the hydrogen that is on carbon 2 or carbon 4. The deactivating group directs the reaction to the meta position, which means the electrophile substitute the hydrogen that is on carbon 3 with the exception of the halogens that is a deactivating group but directs the ortho or para substitution.

noname1.gif noname2.gif
[SIZE="5"]Substituents determine the reaction direction by resonance or inductive effect [/SIZE]
When the substituents like -OH have an unshared pair of electrons, the resonance effect is stronger than the inductive effect which make these substituents stronger activators, since this resonance effect direct the electron toward the ring. In cases where the subtituents is esters or amides, they are less activating because they form resonance structure that pull the electron density away from the ring.

By looking at the mechanism above, we can see how groups donating electron direct the ortho, para electrophilic substition. Since the electrons locatinn transfer between the ortho and para carbons, then the electrophile prefer attacking the carbon that has the free electron.

Inductive effect of alkyl groups activates the direction of the ortho or para substitution, which is when s electrons gets pushed toward the ring.
[SIZE="5"]Deactivating group (meta directors)
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The deactivating groups deactivate the ring by the inductive effect in the presence of an electronegative atom that withdraws the electrons away from the ring.

mechanism 2.gif

we can see from the mechanism above that when there is an electron withdraw from the ring, that leaves the carbons at the ortho, para positions with a positive charge which is unfavorable for the electrophile, so the electrophile attacks the carbon at the meta positions.

Halogens are an exception of the deactivating group that directs the ortho or para substitution. The halogens deactivate the ring by inductive effect not by the resonance even though they have an unpaired pair of electrons. The unpaired pair of electrons gets donated to the ring, but the inductive effect pulls away the s electrons from the ring by the electronegativity of the halogens.
[SIZE="5"]Substituents determine the reactivity of rings
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The reaction of a substituted ring with an activating group is faster than benzene. On the other hand, a substituted ring with a deactivated group is slower than benzene.

Activating groups speed up the reaction because of the resonance effect. The presence of the unpaired electrons that can be donated to the ring, stabilize the carbocation in the transition state. Thus; stabilizing the intermediate step, speeds up the reaction; and this is due to the decrease of the activating energy. On the other hand, the deactivating groups, withdraw the electrons away from the carbocation formed in the intermediate step, thus; the activation energy is increased which slows down the reaction.
[SIZE="5"]Problems[/SIZE]

1- Predict the direction of the electrophile substition on these rings:

Br.gif alkyl.gif

2. Which nitration product is going to form faster?

nitration of aniline or nitration of nitrobenzene?

3. Predict the product of the following two sulfonation reactions:

A.reaction 1.gif

4. Classify these two groups as activating or deactivating groups:

A. alcohol

B. ester

5. By which effect does trichloride effect a monosubstituted ring?

[SIZE="5"]Answers[/SIZE]
1. The first substitution is going to be ortho and/or para substitution since we have a halogen subtituent. The second substition is going to be ortho and/or para substitution also since we have an alkyl substituent.

2. The nitration of aniline is going to be faster than the nitration of nitrobenzene, since the aniline is a ring with NH2 substituent and nitrobenzene is a ring with NO2 substiuent. As described above NH2is an activating group which speeds up the reaction and NO2 is deactivating group that slows down the reaction.

3. A. the product is product 1.gif

B. the product is product 2.gif

4. A. alcohol is an activating group.

B. ester is a deactivating group.

5. Trichloride deactivate a monosubstitued ring by inductive effect.