What happens when benzene is treated with Br-Cl in presence of FeCl3?
**Reaction of Benzene with Br-Cl in the Presence of FeCl3**
The reaction of benzene with Br-Cl in the presence of FeCl3 is known as bromination and chlorination of benzene. This reaction is a substitution reaction in which one or more hydrogen atoms of benzene are replaced by bromine and chlorine atoms.
**Mechanism of the Reaction:**
The reaction proceeds through an electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) mechanism. The FeCl3 acts as a Lewis acid catalyst, which helps in generating the electrophile and facilitates the reaction.
1. **Generation of Electrophile:**
- FeCl3 reacts with Br-Cl to form a complex, FeCl4- and Br+.
- This complex then reacts with benzene, leading to the formation of a highly reactive electrophile, bromonium ion (Br+).
- The bromonium ion is formed by the attack of the Br+ on the benzene ring, resulting in the formation of a cyclic intermediate.
2. **Attack of Benzene:**
- The benzene ring, being a nucleophile, attacks the bromonium ion at any of the carbon atoms, resulting in the formation of a sigma complex.
- The bromonium ion is opened up, and the bromine atom is attached to one of the carbon atoms of the benzene ring.
3. **Rearrangement:**
- The sigma complex undergoes a rearrangement to stabilize the intermediate carbocation.
- The hydrogen atom is shifted from the adjacent carbon atom to the carbon atom bearing the positive charge, resulting in the formation of a more stable carbocation.
4. **Attack by Chlorine:**
- The carbocation acts as an electrophile, attracting the chlorine ion (Cl-) towards it.
- The chlorine ion then attacks the carbocation, leading to the formation of the final product, chlorobenzene.
**Overall Reaction:**
The overall reaction can be represented as follows:
Benzene + Br-Cl + FeCl3 → Bromobenzene + FeCl4- + HCl
**Conclusion:**
In conclusion, when benzene is treated with Br-Cl in the presence of FeCl3, the bromine and chlorine atoms are substituted for hydrogen atoms of benzene. This reaction occurs through an electrophilic aromatic substitution mechanism, involving the generation of a reactive electrophile, attack of benzene, rearrangement, and attack by chlorine. The FeCl3 catalyst helps in the generation of the electrophile and facilitates the reaction.
What happens when benzene is treated with Br-Cl in presence of FeCl3?
Simple addition of Br+ will take place and Bromobenzene will form.
as FeCl3 is a Lewis acid therefore it will take cl and only Br+ (an electrophile ) will remain there.
as partial negative charge appear on benzene electrophilic addition will take place.
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