Friedel-Crafts Reactions and Mechanisms

What is the basic building block used to create polystyrene?

• Toluene

• Styrene

• Cumene

• Phenol

From what natural resource is benzene primarily obtained?

• Natural gas

• Crude oil

• Biomass

• Coal

What type of chemical reaction occurs when an alkene reacts with bromine?

• Electrophilic substitution

• Electrophilic addition

• Dehydrogenation

• Nitration

In the reaction where benzene reacts with bromine, what is the main purpose of adding a catalyst like FeBr3?

• To make benzene more reactive

• To make bromine a stronger electron-seeking molecule

• To remove hydrogen from the benzene ring

• To slow down the reaction

What is the positively charged ion that acts as an electrophile in the nitration of benzene?

• Sulfate ion (SO4^2-)

• Nitronium ion (NO2^+)

• Hydroxyl ion (OH^-)

• Hydrogen ion (H^+)

In the nitration of benzene, what is the role of sulfuric acid?

• It is a reactant that gets used up in the process.

• It helps dissolve the other chemicals.

• It speeds up the reaction without being consumed.

• It is the main product formed.

When 1-chloro-2-methylpropane reacts with benzene in a Friedel-Crafts alkylation, which product is mainly formed due to a rearrangement?

• 2-methylpropylbenzene

• tert-butylbenzene

• Isopropylbenzene

• Chlorobenzene

What is a key difference in the intermediate formed during Friedel-Crafts acylation compared to alkylation?

• Acylation forms a carbocation that is less stable than in alkylation.

• Acylation forms an acylium ion that is stabilized by resonance and does not rearrange.

• Alkylation forms an acylium ion, while acylation forms a carbocation.

• Acylation reactions do not require a Lewis acid catalyst.