Moderate

Which one of the following will be sulphonated readily ?

Correct answer: B. Toluene

  • A. Chlorobenzene
  • B. Toluene
  • C. Nitrobenzene
  • D. Benzene

Explanation

The methyl group in toluene releases electron density into the benzene ring by induction and hyperconjugation, activating it towards electrophilic sulphonation and directing substitution mainly to ortho and para positions. Nitrobenzene is strongly deactivated, while chlorobenzene is less reactive than benzene despite being ortho-para directing. Benzene is the likely alternative because it also undergoes sulphonation, but it reacts less readily than toluene.

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About Benzene and Aromatic Compounds

Benzene has a planar ring of delocalised π electrons, giving aromatic stability and equal carbon-carbon bond lengths. The topic covers resonance, electrophilic substitution reactions such as nitration, halogenation, sulphonation and Friedel-Crafts reactions, along with substituent effects and the distinction between substitution in benzene and addition in ordinary alkenes.

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