Question

Which of the following compounds will form significant amount of meta product during mono-nitration reaction?

• A.
• B.
• C.
• D.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

A mixture of conc. sulphuric acid and nitric acid acts as nitration agent by generating a elecrophile, nitronium ion $\left(N{O}_2^{+}\right)$.
In electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction, activating group increases the electron density at ortho and para positions and thereby acts as ortho, para directing group. Whereas deactivating group, induces substitution at meta position.
In the presence of acid $\left(H_{2}S{O}_4\right)$, aniline gets protonated to form anilinium ion which is a deactivating group via $-I$ effect. Hence substituion occurs slighltly more at para position (51%) followed by meta (47%) and then ortho (2%).