Which of the following can be used as the halide component for Friedel-Crafts reaction?
Chlorobenzene
Bromobenzene
Chloroethene
Isopropyl chloride
In the Friedel-Crafts reaction, an alkyl halide is used to generate an electrophile (a carbocation) in the presence of a Lewis acid like anhydrous . In chlorobenzene, bromobenzene, and chloroethene (vinyl chloride), the halogen atom is directly attached to an hybridised carbon atom. Because of resonance, the bond acquires a partial double bond character, making it very difficult to cleave. Consequently, they do not form carbocations readily. On the other hand, isopropyl chloride is an alkyl halide that readily undergoes heterolytic cleavage to form a stable secondary carbocation, making it a suitable halide component for the Friedel-Crafts reaction.
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