Chemical Properties of Benzene

Chemical Properties:

1. Benzene contains delocalized π-electrons which make the ring to act as an electro rich centre. So electrophilic substitution reaction occurs in benzene.

2. Benzene ring is stabilized by delocalized π electrons. Though it is highly stable, it undergoes addition and oxidation reaction under specific conditions.

1. Electrophilic Substitution Reaction

(a) Nitration:

When benzene is heated at 330K with a nitrating mixture (Con. HNO₃ + Con. H₂SO₄), nitro benzene is formed by replacing are hydrogen atom by nitronium ion NO²⁺(electrophile)

Concentrated H₂SO₄ is added to produce nitronium ion NO²⁺

(b) Halogenation:

Benzene reacts with halogens (X₂=Cl₂, Br₂,) in the presence of Lewis acid such as FeCl₃, FeBr₃ or AlCl₃ and give corresponding halo benzene. In the absence of catalyst, Fluorine reactsvigoursly with benzene even in the absence of catalyst. However iodine is very inactive even in the presence of catalyst

(c) Sulphonation:

Benzene reacts with fuming sulphuric acid (Con H₂SO₄ + SO₃) and gives benzene sulphonic acid. The electrophile SO₃ is a molecule. Although it does not have positive charge, it is a strong electrophile. This is because the octet of electron around the sulphur atom is not reached. The reaction is reversible and desulphonation occurs readily in aqueous medium.

(d) Friedel Craft’s Alkylation: (Methylation)

When benzene is treated with analkyl halide in the presence of only AlCl₃, alkyl benzene is formed.

(e) Friedel Craft’s Acylation : Acetylation

When benzene is treated withacetylchloride in the presence of AlCl₃, acyl benzene is formed

(f) Electrophilic Subitution Reactions: Mechanism

Benzene undergoes electrophilic substitution reaction because it is an electron-rich system due to delocalised π electron. So it a easily attacked by electrophilies and gives substituted products.

Mechanism:

Step: 1

Formulation of the electrophile

Step:2

The electrophile attacks the aromatic ring to form a carbocation intermediate which is stabilized by resonance.

Step: 3

Loss of proton gives the substitution product.

(ii) Addition Reaction:

a. Hydrogenation of benzene:

Benzene reacts with hydrogen in the presence of Platinum or Palladium to yield Cyclohexane. This is known as hydrogenation.

b. Chlorination of Benzene:

Benzene reacts with three molecules of Cl₂ in the presence of sun light or UV light to yield Benzene Hexa Chloride (BHC) C₆H₆Cl₆. This is known as gammaxane or Lindane which is a powerful insecticide.

(iii) Oxidation:

a. Vapour – phase oxidation:-

Although benzene is very stable to strong oxidizing agents, it quickly undergoes vapour phase oxidation by passing its vapour mixed with oxygen over V₂O₅ at 773k. The ring breaks to give maleic anhydride.

b. Birch reduction:

Benzene can be reduced to 1, 4-cyclohexadiene by treatment with Na or Li in a mixture of liquid ammonia and alcohol. It is the convenient method to prepare cyclic dienes.