electrophilic substitution orientation

Question

In nitration of toluene, major products are:

RankGuru · Accepted Answer

1. **Substituent Nature**: The methyl group ($-CH_3$) in toluene is an activating group.
2. **Electronic Influence**: It donates electron density into the ring through **hyperconjugation** and the **$+I$ effect**.
3. **Directing Effect**: Resonance structures show that electron density increases primarily at the **ortho** ($2, 6$) and **para** ($4$) positions.
4. **Mechanism**: Incoming electrophiles ($NO_2^+$) are therefore directed to these electron-rich positions.
5. **Distribution**: Both ortho and para nitro-toluene are formed as major products. Meta is extremely minor.

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electrophilic substitution orientation

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