This homework set is due Monday March 6^th at the start of class. Please turn in

Question

This homework set is due Monday March 6^th at the start of class. Please turn in the homework on pages separate from this one. If you have multiple pages make sure they are kept together either by a staple or a paper clip, prior to arriving to class. Turn in the problems in the order they were assigned. Remove any "spiral fringe" from the homework prior to turning in the homework set, failure to do so will result in the loss of 5 points. This homework set is worth 20 points. Discuss why benzene is resistant to attacks by nucleophiles, but reacts with electrophiles. Discuss why when benzene is coordinated to a metal center such as Mo(CO)_3 to give (benzene)Mo(CO)_3 the benzene ring is now resistant to electrophilic attack, but susceptible to nucleophilic attack. Example the trends observed in table 2.10 of the text on page 65 of the 6^th edition. The table CO's and IR spectroscopy. Suggest possible products for the following reactions and give electron counts for all metal complexes:

Explanation / Answer

Part 1. Benzenes are electronically rich as there are three bonds i.e. six electrons are present in a benzene ring. There is no vacant p orbital for nucleophilic attack on the benzene ring.

But as benzene is electronically rich so it can attack to electrophiles. That’s why it reacts with electrophiles.

Part 2. Metal complexes are generally electronically deficient. So electronically rich benzene coordinates with metal complexes and donates electron density to the metal center. After donating electron densities to the metal, the electron density on the benzene ring decreases so it is resistant to electrophilic attack. At this point nucleophiles can attack to the electronically poor metal bounded benzene ring.

Post the remaining parts as another question as they are incomplete/improper.

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