Given below are two statements: Statement I : Benzene is nitrated to give nitrobenzene, which on further treatment with CH _ 3 COCl / AlCl _ 3 will give : - NO _ 2 group is a m-directing, and deactivating group. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below
A. Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
Statement I: Benzene reacts with nitrating mixture (conc. HNO_3 + conc. H_2SO_4) to form nitrobenzene. However, nitrobenzene is highly deactivated due to the strong electron-withdrawing -I and -M effects of the -NO_2 group. Friedel-Crafts reactions (alkylation or acylation) do not occur on strongly deactivated rings like nitrobenzene. Thus, nitrobenzene will not react with CH_3COCl/AlCl_3 to give m-nitroacetophenone. Statement I is incorrect. Statement II: The -NO_2 group is a meta-directing group because it withdraws electron density from the ortho and para positions more than from the meta position. It is also a deactivating group as it reduces the overall electron density of the benzene ring, making it less reactive towards electrophilic aromatic substitution. Statement II is correct. Therefore, Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.
Related: Chemistry — Hydrocarbons · All PYQ Banks