Module 6 Section 1: Aromatic Compounds and Carbonyls Flashcards
General structure of benzene
Benzene has the formula C6H6
Has a cyclic structure with the 6 carbon atom joined together in a ring
Planar (flat) molecule as it has a ring of carbon atoms with hydrogen sticking out on a flat plane
How can benzene be represented in a diagram
Can be represented using the kekulé model or the delocalised model
What does Kekulé’s structure look like
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Friedrich Kekulé proposed that benzene was made up of a planar (flat) ring of carbon atoms with alternating single and double bonds between them
In Kekulé’s model each carbon atom is also bonded to one hydrogen atom
How was Kekulé’s model slightly altered
Later adapted to show that the benzene molecule was constantly flipping between two forms (isomers) by switching the double and single bonds
Problems with Kekulé’s model of benzene
If this model was correct there should be 3 bonds with the length of a C-C bond (0.154pm) and 3 bonds with the length of a C=C (0.134pm)
However, X-ray diffraction studies have shown that all the carbon-carbon bonds in benzene have the same length of 140pm
Meaning that they are between the length of a single bond and a double bond
This means that Kekulé’s structure can’t be completely right
What does the delocalised model look like
The delocalised model says that the p-orbitals of all 6 carbon atoms overlap to create a π-system
The π-system is made up of two ring shaped clouds of electrons - one above and one below the plane of the 6 carbon atoms
All the bonds in the ring are the same length because all the bonds are the same
The electrons in the rings are delocalised (don’t belong to specific carbon atom)
Represented as a circle inside the ring of carbons rather than as a double or single bonds
How do alkenes normally react with H2
Reacting alkenes with hydrogen gas makes two hydrogen atoms add across the double bond, this is hydrogenation
How do enthalpies of hydrogenation show that Kekulé’s model may be flawed
Cyclohexene has 1 double bond
It’s enthalpy change of hydrogenation in -120kJ mol-1
If benzene had 3 double bonds (in the Kekulé structure) the enthalpy change of hydrogenation would be expected to be 3x-120=-360kJmol-1
The experimental enthalpy of hydrogenation of benzene is -208kJmol-1 which is far less exothermic than expected
This means that more energy is needed to break the bonds in benzene than in Kekulé’s structure
This difference shows that benzene is more stable than the Kekulé structure would be
Benzene’s resistance to reaction gives more evidence for it being more stable than the Kekulé structure suggests
This stability is thought to be due to the delocalised ring of electrons
How to name an aromatic compound with more than one functional group that are all the same compared to if they are different
Pick any group to start from and count round the way that gives the smallest numbers
Start from whichever functional group gives the molecule its suffix (e.g. the OH group for a phenol) and continue counting round the way that gives the smallest numbers
With two prefixes (e.g. methyl and chloro) order them alphabetically
Examples of aromatic compounds that use ‘benzene’ in the name
Chlorobenzene
Nitrobenzene
1,3-dimethylbenzene
Examples of aromatic compounds that use ‘phenyl’ in the name
Phenol
Phenylamine
When is benzene a substituent
When the carbon chain or functional group bonded to benzene has 7 or more carbon atoms
The prefix phenyl is used
E.g. 2-phenyloctane, phenylethanone
Common exceptions with naming aromatic compounds
Phenylamine (1 NH2 bonded)
Benzoic acid/benzenecarboxylic acid (COOH bonded)
Benzaldehyde (CHO bonded)
OMP rules
A group is ortho- if it is on the carbon next to the first carbon
A group is meta- if it is on the carbon 2 away from the first carbon
A group is para is if it is on the carbon 3 away from the first carbon (directly opposite on the ring)
How does electrophilic addition reaction fault the Kekulé structure
You would expect benzene to react similarly with bromine as alkenes in electrophilic addition to turn bromine water colourless
With benzene you need to heat up the molecule and UV light where it is still difficult to facilitate the reaction.
Why can’t benzene undergo electrophilic addition and why does this show evidence for the delocalised model
The pi system in benzene has spread out delocalised electrons which makes the benzene ring very stable
This means that it is unwilling to undergo addition reactions as it would destroy the stable ring
This supports the delocalised model as alkenes have a double bond with high electron density which attract electrophiles but the negative charge is spread out in benzene
This means that benzene prefers to react by electrophilic substitution
What do electrophilic substitution reaction result in
Result in a hydrogen atom being substituted by an electrophile
Two steps of electrophilic substitution
Addition of an electrophile to form a positively intermediate
The loss of H+ from the carbon atom attached to the electrophile
This reforms the delocalised ring
What are halogen carriers
Halogen carriers are catalysts which make atoms into stronger electrophiles
An electrophile needs to have a strong positive charge to attack the benzene ring
Most compounds aren’t polarised enough
How do halogen carrier make stronger electrophiles
A halogen carrier accepts a lone pair of electrons from a halogen atom on an electrophile
As the lone pair of electrons is pulled away, the polarisation in the molecule increases and a carbocation can sometimes form
This makes the electrophile stronger
Examples of halogen carriers
Aluminium halides
Iron halides
Iron
Halogenation mechanism with halogen carrier
Benzene will react with halogens (e.g. Br2) in the presence of an aluminium chloride catalyst, AlCl3
The catalyst polarises the halogen, allowing one of the halogen atoms to act as an electrophile
During the reaction, a halogen atom is substituted in place of a H atom (called halogenation)
What are Friedel-Crafts reactions used for
Useful for forming C-C bonds in organic synthesis
Carried out by refluxing benzene with a halogen carrier and either a haloalkane or an acyl chloride
Overall reaction for friedel-craft alkylation