In the Meisenheimer complex (carbanion intermediate) formed during the reaction of 1-chloro-4-nitrob — Aromatic Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

During the initial addition step of the $S_NAr$ mechanism, the incoming nucleophile attacks the carbon bearing the leaving group. This specific carbon atom changes its hybridization from $sp^2$ to $sp^3$ to accommodate both groups simultaneously. The remaining 5 carbon atoms in the six-membered ring remain $sp^2$ hybridized to allow for the resonance delocalization of the negative charge.