Nitration of Naphthalene

[@VictortheOrganicChemistryTutor]

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[@shirleymgxc]

Great video sir! Can you explain why intact aromatic rings contribute more to the stability of the intermediates e.g. compared to the degrees of carbocations?

[@VictortheOrganicChemistryTutor]

It just does. There's no simple explanation for this phenomenon outside of the MO energies for these contributors. The empirical evidence and quantum chemical calculations both suggest that resonance contributors with intact aromatic rings represent the overall hybrid much closer than contributors with "broken" aromatic ring.

[@JoshSciDestiny]

Great explanation! Would you also consider the presence of a tertiary carbocation in the resonance structures of the alpha to additionally contribute to the regioselectivity?

[@VictortheOrganicChemistryTutor]

They both have a tertiary contributor (second contributor for β), so that can't be a defining difference, unfortunately.

[@akshadnimbarte]

Recently I have been doing a lot of math and physical chemistry, and it’s sooo mind bending

[@VictortheOrganicChemistryTutor]

Math and physical chemistry: the ultimate brain workout! It's like solving puzzles while doing acrobatics. But hey, at least you'll never be bored!

[@akshadnimbarte]

It’s been some time since I did some o chem

[@ismaelnagi38]

Thank you

[@VictortheOrganicChemistryTutor]

Welcome!