Vollhardt 6th Ed. (2010)
CH 22: Chemistry of Benzene Substituents: Alkylbenzenes, Phenols, and Benzamines

Solutions can be seen at mendelset.com/chapters/1152


  1. Problem # 305

    Rank each group of acids in order of decreasing acidity. (1 = most acidic)

    Explain your reasoning. You will have to use more than one rule in your explanation (resonance, electronegativity, atomic radius, etc.). 

     

  2. Problem # 580

    Draw all resonance forms for each species.

    For the anion and cation species, used curved arrows. For the radical species, use hooks.

  3. Problem # 581

    Draw all products for the two reactions below.

    The allylic alkene gives two products- the 1,2 product, and the 1,4 product. 

    However, the benzylic alkene only gives the one product (analogous to the 1,2 product), instead of multiple products (like the 1,4 product, 1,6 product, and 1,8 product). Why is this the case?

  4. Problem # 611

    Draw in the arrows to show the electron flow and resonance forms in the nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction below.

    Note: Depending on the textbook, nucleophilic aromatic substitution is referred to as NAS, SNAr, or addition-elimination.

     

  5. Problem # 612

    Draw a mechanism for the nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reaction below. Show all resonance forms of the intermediate.

  6. Problem # 615

    Let's go through a benzyne reaction (also called elimination-addition).

    In the reaction below, the strong base (NaNH2) will form a benzyne intermediate, which when forms either ortho nitroaniline or meta nitroaniline.

    Used curved arrows to show the formation of each intermediate and the final products.

  7. Problem # 616

    Let's go through another way to make benzyne.

    First, let's form a Grignard reagent. Then, let's elminate to form benzyne.

  8. Problem # 755

    The nitrosyl cation is shown below. Also shown are several proposed resonance arrows, only one of which is correct.

    Draw the resonance forms that would follow from each set of arrows, and include formal charges. Which one is the correct resonance form? Explain your reasoning.

  9. Problem # 1281

    Allylic and benzylic halides tend to undergo both SN1 and SN2 substitution reactions at a faster rate than their alkyl counterparts.

    For example, both allyl chloride and benzyl chloride undergo SN2 reaction at a faster rate than propyl chloride. 

    The same holds true for SN1 reactions: a 2° allyl or benzyl halide undergoes SN1 reaction faster than a 2° alkyl halide. Explain.