Home > Community > Why is the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of nitrobenzene disfavoured?
Upvote

25

Downvote
+ Synthesis
Posted by
Mahesh Somasundaram

Why is the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of nitrobenzene disfavoured?

BPS Glass  Follow

The nitro group is so deactivating that yields are really poor for Friedel-Crafts reactions with nitrobenzene; not even the meta-substituted product is found in good yield. In fact, nitrobenzene is actually used as a solvent in Friedel-Crafts reactions.

More

Upvote

VOTE

Downvote
Frank Ferrarini  Follow
@BenNorris More
Upvote

VOTE

Downvote
Fashion and Style  Follow
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bscb.19660750903/abstractMore
Upvote

VOTE

Downvote
Jeff Singer  Follow
Agreed. Most undergraduate organic chemistry texts come with a big disclaimer that Friedel-Crafts reactions work poorly on deactivated rings. I would love to see a link or reference for the use of nitrobenzene as a solvent for FC reactions. It would really solidify this answer.More
Upvote

VOTE

Downvote