Question

Role of Lewis acid, $Al{Cl}_3$ in electrophilic aromatic substitution is:

• A. to produce electrophile
• B. increase rate of reaction
• C. to produce nucleophile
• D. Electron acceptor

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

to produce electrophile

Substitution reactions allows the delocalized pi ( ππ ) cloud of electrons to remain intact as this delocalized structure is particularly stable. Lewis acid like $AlC{l}_3$ is used in the halogenation of benzene to generate the electrophile.

It is a electrophilic substitution reaction.

So option $A$ is correct