Aromatic Compounds
8.0 Orientation and Reactivity in Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution
8.1 Donation of electrons into a benzene ring by resonance
8.2 Withdrawal of electrons from a benzene ring by resonance
8.0 Orientation and Reactivity in Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution
8.2 Withdrawal of electrons from a benzene ring by resonance
In the case of benzene we get just one monosubstituted product in electrophilic aromatic substitution as all the positions are equivalent. However, for substitution in a compound which already has a group attached to the ring, three disubstituted products, (1,2), (1,3), (1,4) commonly called ortho, meta and para meaning next to, between and opposite respectivey are possible. These are abbreviated as o, m and p.
One may think, are all the three products formed in equal amounts or is there some kind of preference? Let us take two examples.
