In the electrophilic aromatic substitution of naphthalene, attack at the alpha (C-1) position is kin — Aromatic Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question
Question
In the electrophilic aromatic substitution of naphthalene, attack at the alpha (C-1) position is kinetically preferred over attack at the beta (C-2) position because:
Answer: B
💡 Solution & Explanation
Alpha-attack produces an intermediate with two canonical forms that preserve a fully intact, low-energy benzenoid ring in the adjacent fused ring. Beta-attack only provides one such structure, raising its activation energy.
💬Ask on WhatsApp →
Still have doubts about this question?
Send it to our AI chemistry tutor on WhatsApp — gets answered in minutes