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Halogenoarenes

A-Level Chemistry 9701 · Topic 31 revision notes

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  1. Halogenoarenes

1Halogenoarenes

Syllabus 31.1

A halogenoarene has a halogen atom bonded directly to a benzene ring. Chlorobenzene is made by electrophilic substitution: benzene and Cl2 with an anhydrous halogen carrier (AlCl3 or FeCl3) at room temperature; methylbenzene gives a mixture of 2- and 4-chloromethylbenzene. Chlorobenzene is much less reactive towards nucleophiles than chloroethane. A lone pair on chlorine overlaps with the delocalised π system, giving the C–Cl bond partial double-bond character, so it is shorter and stronger (about 0.170 nm against 0.177 nm), and the electron-rich ring repels an approaching nucleophile. So chlorobenzene gives no reaction with NaOH(aq) on warming and no precipitate with ethanolic AgNO3, but its ring still undergoes electrophilic substitution at the 2- and 4-positions.

chloroethanechlorobenzene CH₃CH₂Cl δ+δ− OH⁻ C–Cl about 0.177 nm OH⁻ attacks the δ+ carbon substituted on warming Cl OH⁻ × Cl lone pair overlaps with the delocalised π ring C–Cl about 0.170 nm, stronger π electrons repel OH⁻ no reaction with NaOH(aq)
Fig. 1: why OH− substitutes chloroethane but not chlorobenzene

Carrier for the ring, UV for the side chain.

  • Cl2 + AlCl3: chlorine on the ring (2- and 4- on methylbenzene).
  • Stronger C–Cl: lone pair overlaps with the π ring.
  • Ring repels nucleophiles: no NaOH(aq) reaction, no AgCl.
  • Ring still reacts: electrophilic substitution, 2,4-directing.

Watch out!

Do not write a halogen carrier for side-chain chlorination: AlCl3 puts Cl on the ring; UV light puts it on the CH3. Chlorobenzene is unreactive because the C–Cl bond is stronger (lone pair delocalised into the ring), not because Cl is less electronegative, and the ring repels nucleophiles. Never say chlorobenzene gives a white precipitate with AgNO3. When asked for the products of ring substitution on chlorobenzene, give both the 2- and 4-isomers.

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