Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the ability of various compounds to undergo Friedel-Crafts alkylation, focusing on the influence of substituents such as NH2 and CH3 groups on reactivity. Participants explore the conditions under which certain compounds can participate in this reaction, including the role of catalysts like AlCl3.
Discussion Character
- Homework-related
- Technical explanation
- Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- Some participants assert that the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th compounds can undergo Friedel-Crafts alkylation, while the 4th compound cannot.
- One participant questions the reactivity of the 4th compound, noting its NH2 group and comparing it to the 2nd compound with a CH3 group.
- Another participant suggests that the NH2 group loses its lone pair in the presence of AlCl3, forming an NH3+ cation, which is highly deactivating.
- It is proposed that the CH3 group in the 2nd compound is activating and does not donate electrons, allowing for the substitution reaction to proceed.
- Clarifications are made regarding the role of the chlorine substituent in the 2nd compound, indicating that it is not the chlorine that is removed during the reaction.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the reactivity of the 4th compound compared to the 2nd compound, with no consensus reached on the underlying reasons for these differences.
Contextual Notes
Participants discuss the effects of substituents on reactivity without resolving the implications of lone pair donation or the specific roles of activating versus deactivating groups in Friedel-Crafts alkylation.