EAS Series: Video 1
The topic of EAS or Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution reactions is one that covers a key reaction pathways studied in the average organic chemistry course.
While the mechanism undergoes a broken pi bond and addition to the former sp2 carbon atom, the EAS reaction is very very different from the Alkene Addition Reactions you've studied back in Orgo 1.
- Benzene is much less reactive than the alkene's nucleophilic pi bonds
- EAS requires a super-electrophile which is more positive/unstable compared to the standard electrophile
- The pi bond and aromaticity is restored in EAS reactions
The video below will give you a quick introduction to the EAS reaction. Also, you will see a comparison to the alkene addition reaction and explanation of the super-electropohile.
(Watch on YouTube: EAS Intro. Click CC on bottom right for transcript.)
–> Watch Next Video: EAS Mechanism and Sigma Complex Resonance