Question

In this question, I am not quite sure what will be the major product in the reaction and on reacting (2-methoxyethyl)benzene with NO2−O−NO2 (N2O5). I know NO2 will act as electrophile and gets attached to ortho or para. In this will it be ortho position instead of para due to hydrogen bonding with CH2CH2OCH3 ?

Answer 1

In electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions like nitration, the major product of reacting (2-methoxyethyl)benzene with N2O5 will be a nitro derivative at either the ortho or para position, with hydrogen bonding potentially favoring the ortho position.

Step-by-step explanation:

The major product of the reaction between (2-methoxyethyl)benzene and N2O5 (acting as a source of NO2 in a nitration reaction) would typically yield a nitro derivative at the ortho or para position relative to the methoxyethyl substituent. In this case, due to the possibility of hydrogen bonding with the methoxy group (CH2CH2OCH3), the ortho position might be favored for the incoming nitro group.

However, the steric hindrance by the methoxyethyl group can also influence the final outcome, leading to possible formation of the para product if the ortho positions are less accessible. It is important to consider both electronic effects (such as resonance and inductive effects) and steric hindrance when predicting the major product in electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions like nitration.