Electrophilic aromatic sulfonation of benzene yields which product?

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Multiple Choice

Electrophilic aromatic sulfonation of benzene yields which product?

Electrophilic aromatic sulfonation adds a sulfonic acid group (-SO3H) onto the benzene ring. In strong sulfuric acid, sulfur trioxide acts as the electrophile and attacks the aromatic π system, forming a sigma complex that, after loss of a proton, re-aromatizes to give the aryl sulfonic acid. This is exactly the product produced under these conditions, not a sulfonyl chloride, sulfonic anhydride, or related derivatives. The others would require different reagents or different dehydration/condensation steps, not the SO3 in concentrated sulfuric acid used here.

Electrophilic aromatic sulfonation adds a sulfonic acid group (-SO3H) onto the benzene ring. In strong sulfuric acid, sulfur trioxide acts as the electrophile and attacks the aromatic π system, forming a sigma complex that, after loss of a proton, re-aromatizes to give the aryl sulfonic acid. This is exactly the product produced under these conditions, not a sulfonyl chloride, sulfonic anhydride, or related derivatives. The others would require different reagents or different dehydration/condensation steps, not the SO3 in concentrated sulfuric acid used here.

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