Question

Which combination of reagents used in the indicated order with benzene will give m-nitropropylbenzene? a. 1) CH3CH2CH2Cl/AlCl3, 2) HNO3/H2SO4 b. 1) HNO3/H2SO4, 2) CH3CH2CH2Cl/AlCl3 c. 1) CH3CH2CH2Cl/AlCl3, 2) HNO3/H2SO4, 3) Zn/HCl d. 1) HNO3/H2SO4, 2) CH3CH2CH2Cl/AlCl3, 3) Zn/HCl

Answer 1

1) HNO3/H2SO4, 2) CH3CH2CH2Cl/AlCl3

Step-by-step explanation:

Benzene is a stable aromatic compound hence it undergoes substitution rather than addition reaction.

When benzene undergoes substitution reaction, the substituent introduced into the ring determines the position of the incoming electrophile.

If I want to synthesize m-nitropropylbenzene, I will first carry out the nitration of benzene using HNO3/H2SO4 since the -nitro group is a meta director. This is now followed by Friedel Craft's alkykation using CH3CH2CH2Cl/AlCl3.