Question

Why Para's product is major and not ortho?

Answer 1

Para Product and Ortho Product:

• These are the prefixes that are used to designate where a substituent on a Benzene(${\text{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_6$) derivative or even Benzene is located. The substituents are in ortho position when they are close to one another (position 1 and position 2). The substituent occupies the opposite ends at the para position (position 1 and position 4)
• When an electrophilic substitution reaction occurs and the ortho and para products are generated, the para product is termed the major product and the ortho product is regarded the minor product.
• The steric barrier is to blame for this. The presence of the groups near to each other in the ortho product creates an impediment, and the group tries to attach at the para location.
• As a result, the para product outnumbers the ortho product.
• There are four resonance structures in ortho and para, but only three in meta.
• The charge in ortho and para is easily delocalized, meaning that these two positions are more stable than meta.