Which of the following compound will most easily be attacked by an electrophile?

Which of the following compound will most easily be attacked by an electrophile?

Solution

Ortho, para directing groups are electron-donating groups; meta directing groups are electron-withdrawing groups. The halide ions, which are electron-withdrawing but ortho, para directing, are the exception.

Here -OH group is strong electron donating group. Hence electrophile can easily give electron.

-OH group in phenol can release electrons to the ring better than -CH3 group in toluene. Cl atom has electron withdrawing effect which inhibits electrophile attack readily.


Asked in: JEE Main 2024 (01 Feb Shift 1)

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