3. Are the following substituents ortho/para or meta directors?
EXPLAIN WHY.
a. CF3
b. NO2
Meta Directors: all substituents that withdraw electrons by resonance and/or inductive effects (EXCEPT halogens, which donate electrons by resonance, but withdraw electrons inductively) Common Meta Directors • --NO2 • --CF3
• --+NR3
• --C_N
Why are electron withdrawing groups meta directors? If you have a substituent, which removes electron density from the benzene ring, you want to make the most stable carbocation possible. Compare the relative stability of resonance contributors for carbocations with a strongly electron withdrawing substituent like nitro (NO2):
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