The Dow process converts chlorobenzene to phenol. Which of the following statements justify the extr — Alcohols Phenols and Ethers Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The lone pairs on chlorine participate in resonance with the benzene ring, imparting partial double bond character to the $C-Cl$ bond, making it shorter and stronger. Furthermore, the $sp^2$ carbon is more electronegative, making the bond harder to break. Therefore, extreme conditions are necessary to force the normally unfavorable nucleophilic aromatic substitution.