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Aromatic Electrophilic Substitution

Aromatic systems are exceptionally stable. They do not undergo the typical reactions of alkenes. However, that does not mean they are unreactive. Under the appropriate conditions they give electrophilic aromatic substitution (SEAr), a kind of reaction in which aromaticity is temporarily lost at the transition state but is recovered in the final products.

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Outline of SEAr: benzene, electron rich (nucleophile), attacks the electron-poor electrophile E+ and, with the help of a catalyst, an H is replaced by E

Mechanism

Simple SEAr reactions

Complexity of the SEAr