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Why aromatic aldehydes are less reactive than aliphatic aldehyds?
The reactivity of aldehydes is largely determined by the stability of the carbonyl group. In aromatic aldehydes, the carbonyl group is attached to a benzene ring which has delocalized pi electrons. This delocalization makes the carbonyl group less electrophilic and therefore less reactive compared to aliphatic aldehydes where the carbonyl group is attached to a saturated carbon.
The structure of aromatic aldehydes, specifically the presence of a benzene ring, reduces the electrophilicity of the carbonyl group. This is due to the delocalization of electrons in the benzene ring, which stabilizes the carbonyl group and decreases its reactivity.
Yes, there are some aromatic aldehydes that can exhibit higher reactivity compared to aliphatic aldehydes. This is often seen in cases where the aromatic ring is highly electron-withdrawing, such as in nitrobenzaldehydes.
Steric effects refer to the hindrance caused by bulky substituents on a molecule. In aromatic aldehydes, the presence of bulky substituents can hinder the approach of nucleophiles to the carbonyl group, leading to decreased reactivity. This is not as significant in aliphatic aldehydes where the carbonyl group is more exposed.
Yes, the reactivity of aromatic aldehydes can be increased by introducing electron-withdrawing groups onto the benzene ring. This can disrupt the delocalization of electrons and make the carbonyl group more electrophilic. Additionally, using strong Lewis acids as catalysts can also increase the reactivity of aromatic aldehydes.