✨ VIPSolutions

This question is about categorizing substituents on a benzene ring as either **ortho/para directors** or **meta directors** in electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) reactions. Here’s a quick summary to help you: - **Ortho/Para directors**: Usually electron-donating groups (EDGs) or weak electron-withdrawing groups (halogens). They activate the benzene ring toward electrophilic substitution at the ortho and para positions. - **Meta directors**: Strong electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs), which deactivate the benzene ring and direct new substituents to the meta position. **Let’s categorize each group shown:** --- ### **Ortho/Para Directors:** - Alkyl groups (like CH₃, ethyl, t-butyl) - Alkoxy groups (like OCH₃) - Amino groups (NH₂, NHR, NR₂) - Hydroxy (OH) - Halogens (F, Cl, Br, I) — although deactivating, still ortho/para directors - Benzene ring attached (phenyl group) ### **Meta Directors:** - Nitro (NO₂) - Sulfonic acid (SO₃H) - Carbonyl-containing groups (COOH, COOR, CHO, COR) - Cyanide (CN) - Ammonium (NR₃⁺) - Trifluoromethyl (CF₃) --- #### **Analyzing Each Structure:** **A (NO₂):** Meta director **B (SO₃H):** Meta director **C (CH₃):** Ortho/para director **D (OCH₃):** Ortho/para director **E (F):** Ortho/para director **F (COOH):** Meta director **G (CHO):** Meta director **H (Cl):** Ortho/para director **I (OH):** Ortho/para director **J (NH₂):** Ortho/para director **K (COCH₃):** Meta director **L (COOCH₃):** Meta director **M (NR₃⁺):** Meta director **N (CF₃):** Meta director **O (benzene ring/Ph):** Ortho/para director **P (Br):** Ortho/para director **Q (CN):** Meta director --- ### **Summary Table:** | **Ortho/Para Directors** | **Meta Directors** | |--------------------------|-----------------------| | C (CH₃) | A (NO₂) | | D (OCH₃) | B (SO₃H) | | E (F) | F (COOH) | | H (Cl) | G (CHO) | | I (OH) | K (COCH₃) | | J (NH₂) | L (COOCH₃) | | O (Ph) | M (NR₃⁺) | | P (Br) | N (CF₃) | | | Q (CN) | **Note:** Halogens are deactivating but still ortho/para directors. Let me know if you need an explanation for any specific group!