Question

Assertion (A): Benzoic acid does not undergo Friedel-Crafts reaction.

Reason (R): Carboxyl group is deactivating and the catalyst aluminium chloride gets bonded to the carboxyl group.

Options

• Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).

• Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).

• Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.

• Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Answer 1

Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).

Explanation:

The assertion holds as the Friedel-Crafts reaction represents a specific form of electrophilic aromatic substitution characterised by the introduction of either an alkyl or acyl group into an aromatic ring. Nevertheless, benzoic acid is an unsuitable substrate due to the presence of the carboxyl group, which acts as a strong electron-withdrawing entity that deactivates the aromatic ring.