Electrophilic Substitution Mechanism
The mechanism of the reaction can be broken down into the following steps:
- Formation of Electrophile: Nitric acid reacts with concentrated sulfuric acid, forming the nitronium ion (NO2+) as the electrophile. This reaction involves the proton transfer from sulfuric acid to nitric acid.
HNO3 + 2H2SO4 ——-> NO2 + 2HSO4– + H3O+
- Attack of Electrophile on Aromatic Ring: The nitronium ion (NO2+) is attracted to the high region of electron density in the delocalized benzene ring. It attacks one of the carbon atoms in the ring, forming a temporary arenium ion.
C6H6/C6H5+ + NO2+ ——–> C6H5+.NO2+
- Formation of Nitrobenzene Product: The arenium ion loses a proton to a Lewis base, such as water, forming the nitrobenzene product.
- Formation of Nitrobenzene Product: The arenium ion loses a proton to a Lewis base, such as water, forming the nitrobenzene product.
C6H5+.NO2+ ——–> C6H5NO2 + H2O
Overall, the reaction can be represented as follows:
C6H6 + HNO3 → C6H5NO2 + H2O
Nitration
Nitration is a chemical process that helps introduce nitro group (-NO2) in an organic compound. But sometimes, the term is misunderstood to represent different processes, like forming nitrate esters among nitric acids and alcohols, which takes place in synthesizing nitroglycerin. The main difference between nitrates and nitro compounds is the bonding of nitrogen atoms with oxygen or carbon.
In this article, we will learn about, Nitration Definition, Nitration Mechanism, Types of Nitration, Nitrating Agent, and others in detail.
Table of Content
- What is Nitration?
- Nitration Mechanism
- Types of Nitration
- Electrophilic Substitution Mechanism
- Nitrating Agents
- Examples of Nitration
- Factors Affecting Nitration
- Applications of Nitration