What is Electrophilic Substitution Reaction?

Electrophilic substitution reactions are among the most fundamental and interesting reactions in organic chemistry. These reactions play an important role in the formation of a large number of organic compounds.

Electrophilic substitution reaction is a type of organic reaction in which an atom or group of atoms in a molecule is replaced by an electrophile. An electrophile is a species that seeks electrons and is electron-deficient.

This reaction is particularly common in aromatic compounds, where the aromaticity of the ring is preserved during the substitution process.

In an electrophilic substitution, the functional group which gets displaced is usually a hydrogen atom. These reactions are of paramount importance in organic synthesis, allowing chemists to selectively modify aromatic compounds and create a diverse range of organic products with various applications, including the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, dyes, and fragrances.

Steps in Electrophilic Substitution Reaction

Following steps happens when any compound goes through electrophilic substitution

• Generation of an Electrophile
• Formation of an Intermediate (which is a Carbocation)
• Removal of a proton from Intermediate

Examples of Electrophilic Substitution Reaction

Electrophilic substitution reactions are a class of organic reactions where an electrophile (an electron-seeking species) replaces a functional group or atom in a molecule. Examples of electrophilic substitution reactions include:

• Electrophilic aromatic nitration
• Electrophilic aromatic sulphonation reactions
• Friedel Craft Alkylation and Acylation
• Halogenation of Aromatic ring
• Halogenation of Alkanes
• Aliphatic Diazonium Coupling, etc.

Electrophilic Substitution is a type of organic reaction in which an electrophile replaces a functional group in a molecule. The functional group is generally a hydrogen atom. This reaction is commonly observed in aromatic compounds, where the aromaticity of the ring is maintained. Some of the common examples are Nitration, Halogenation, Sulfonation, etc.

In this article, we will learn about Electrophilic substitution reactions, its example, its mechanisms, their types, and the difference between electrophilic and nucleophilic substitution reactions.