Question

Account for the following:

Haloarenes are extremely less reactive towards nucleophilic substitution reactions.

Account for the following:

Haloarenes do not undergo nucleophilic substitution reaction easily.

Answer 1

Haloarenes exhibit a reduced reactivity in nucleophilic substitution reactions due to the lone pair of electrons on the halogen atom being in conjugation with the π-electrons of the aromatic ring. Consequently, the C-X bond attains a degree of partial double bond character. Consequently, the process of bond cleavage presents considerable challenges.

The sp² hybridized C-atom is more electronegative, resulting in a tighter connection with its electron pair. As a result, the relationship becomes shorter and harder to sever.