In the benzyne intermediate (), the highly reactive "extra" abnormal -bond is formed by the sideways — Reaction Mechanism Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

All six carbon atoms in benzyne remain $sp^2$ hybridized. The structure has the normal delocalized $\pi$ -system from $p$ orbitals, but the additional weak $\pi$ -bond is formed by the sideways overlap of two adjacent $sp^2$ hybrid orbitals.