ch 4. Aromatic Compounds Notes

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to aromatic compounds as discussed in recent lecture notes.

Aromatic compounds

Compounds possessing a ring structure like benzene, with similar electronic configuration and chemical behavior.

Benzene

A planar, cyclic structure made up of six carbon atoms, each bonded to a hydrogen atom, with delocalized electrons.

Kekulé structure

A theoretical representation of benzene with alternating single and double bonds proposed by Friedrich August Kekulé.

Aromaticity

A property of cyclic compounds that have a planar structure and 4n+2 pi electrons, leading to increased stability.

Electrophilic aromatic substitution

A chemical reaction in which an electrophile replaces a hydrogen atom on an aromatic ring.

Halogenation

A process in which a halogen atom is introduced into an aromatic compound.

Nitration

The introduction of a nitro group into an aromatic compound, typically using concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids.

Friedel-Crafts Alkylation

A process that introduces an alkyl group onto an aromatic ring using an alkyl halide and a Lewis acid catalyst.

ortho-, meta-, para-

Terms used to describe the positions of substituents on a benzene ring, specifically in disubstituted benzenes.

Hückel's Rule

A rule stating that a cyclic compound is aromatic if it has 4n+2 pi electrons, where n is a whole number.