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JEE Main levelOne or more correct optionsDifficulty 2 of 3o2143

Which statements about the arenium ion intermediate in electrophilic aromatic substitution are correct?

  1. AIt contains one sp3 hybridised ring carbon bearing both the electrophile and a hydrogen
  2. BThe loss of a proton from it restores the aromatic sextet
  3. CIt is aromatic and more stable than benzene
  4. DThe positive charge is delocalised mainly over the ring carbons ortho and para to the sp3 carbon

Answer: A, B, D

The attacked carbon becomes sp3 and the five remaining carbons carry the delocalised positive charge, mostly at the positions ortho and para to the sp3 carbon. Loss of the proton from the sp3 carbon regenerates the aromatic ring. The cation is not aromatic and is far less stable than benzene.
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