KIP

Electrophilic Substitution Reaction is a fundamental reaction in aromatic chemistry where an electrophile (an electron-deficient species) replaces a hydrogen atom on an aromatic ring. This reaction preserves the aromaticity of the ring and commonly occurs in compounds like benzene. There are several types of electrophilic substitution reactions, including nitration, halogenation, sulfonation, Friedel-Crafts alkylation, and Friedel-Crafts acylation. The general mechanism of electrophilic aromatic substitution involves three key steps: (1) Generation of the electrophile, where a strong electrophile is produced using reagents like acids or catalysts; (2) Formation of the arenium ion (carbocation intermediate), where the electrophile attacks the π-electron-rich aromatic ring, temporarily disrupting aromaticity; and (3) Restoration of aromaticity, where a base removes a proton from the intermediate, regenerating the aromatic system. This mechanism explains the high reactivity of aromatic compounds toward electrophiles while maintaining their aromatic stability.