Electrophiles are reagents that participate in a reaction by accepting an electron pair in order to bond to nucleophiles. The higher the electron density on a benzene ring, the more reactive is the compound towards an electrophile, (Electrophilic reaction)
(a) The presence of an electron-withdrawing group (i.e., and ) deactivates the aromatic ring by decreasing the electron density. Since the group is more electron-withdrawing (due to resonance effect) than the group (due to inductive effect), the decreasing order of reactivity is as follows: Chlorobenzene > p – nitro chlorobenzene > 2, 4 – dinitrochlorobenzene
(b) While is an electron-donating group, group is electron-withdrawing. Hence, toluene will have the maximum electron density and is most easily attacked by . is an electron-withdrawing group. Hence, when the number of substituents is greater, the order is as follows: