Directing Effects of Substituents on Arenes (Cambridge (CIE) A Level Chemistry): Revision Note

The Directing Effects of Substituents on Arenes

• Arenes readily undergo electrophilic substitution of one of their hydrogen atoms with another species

• Substituents that are already present on the arenes can affect where the substitution of the hydrogen atom on the arene takes place

  • These groups are said to direct substitution reactions to different ring positions

Electron-withdrawing & electron-donating groups

• The substituents on the arenes can either be electron-withdrawing or electron-donating groups

• Electron-withdrawing substituents remove electron density from the π system in the benzene ring making it less reactive

  • These groups deactivate attack by electrophiles and direct the incoming electrophile to attack the 3 and/or 5 positions

  • For example, the nitro group in nitrobenzene is an electron-withdrawing group

    • Upon bromination of nitrobenzene, the bromine electrophile will be directed to the 3 and/or 5 position

    • The products are 3-bromonitrobenzene and 5-bromonitrobenzene

• Electron-donating substituents donate electron density into the π system of the benzene ring making it more reactive

  • These groups activate attack by electrophiles and direct the incoming electrophile to attack the 2, 4 and/or 6 positions

  • For example, the methyl group in methylbenzene is an electron-donating group

    • Upon bromination of methylbenzene, the bromine electrophile will be directed to the 2 and/or 4 position

    • The products are 2-bromomethylbenzene and 4-bromomethylbenzene

Electron-withdrawing & electron-donating substituents table