Consider the addition-elimination () mechanism for the reaction of -nitrochlorobenzene with sodium h — Aromatic Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

In the $S_NAr$ mechanism, the nucleophile attacks the carbon bearing the leaving group to form a tetrahedral $sp^3$ carbon, generating a cyclic carbanion known as a Meisenheimer complex. Strong electron-withdrawing groups (like $-NO_2$) at ortho or para positions are essential because they accept and heavily stabilize this negative charge via the $-M$ (resonance) effect.