The aromatic compounds contain benzene ring – ring that consist of 6 carbon atoms connected with pi-delocalised bond. The simplest member of this family is benzene C6H6. Substitution of a hydrogen atom on the aromatic ring for an electrophile is the characteristic reaction of aromatic compounds (nitration, sulfonation, halogenation). Under particular conditions the aromatic compounds can undergoes addition reactions. They are stable with respect to the oxidizers. The alkylbenzenes undergoes oxidation under the influence of strong oxidizers like KMnO4. The oxidation takes place in the alkylchain. The aromatic hydrocarbons are part of the crude oil fractions .

Structure, nomenclature and isomerism

http://www.rjclarkson.demon.co.uk/candrands/arenes.htm#names Arenes nomenclature.

http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/1organic/hydro.html#aromatic The Aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives.

http://www.rod.beavon.clara.net/benzene.htm Benzen: The symbol.

http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/OrgChem/aromatics.html Naming organic compounds: Aromatics.

http://www.chemhelper.com/benzenetutorial.html Nomenclature and properties of benzen.

http://members.aol.com/logan20/aromatic.html#nomen Nomenclature of mono-, di- and polysubstituted benzene derivatives.

http://www.wpbschoolhouse.btinternet.co.uk/page07/Aromatics.htm Aromatic hydrocarbons.

http://people.ouc.bc.ca/woodcock/nomenclature/nom-800.htm Aromatic compounds: Monosubstituted benzenes.

http://www.blackwellscience.com/11thhour/book6/oc1ch8.html Aromatic compounds. [Back to top]

 

Chemical properties

http://www.rjclarkson.demon.co.uk/candrands/arenes.htm#reactions Arenes reaction: Nitration.

http://www.rjclarkson.demon.co.uk/candrands/arenes.htm#Reaction%20Mechanism Reaction mechanism: electrophilic substitution.

http://members.aol.com/logan20/aromatic.html Introduction to aromaticiy and aromatic hydrocarbons.

http://www.rod.beavon.clara.net/ES.htm Animated electrophilic substitution of benzen.

http://members.aol.com/logan20/aromatic.html#reaction Electrophilic Aromatic substitutions of benzene derivatives.

http://www.cem.msu.edu/~reusch/VirtualText/react3.htm#rx8 Benzen and other aromatic compounds: Chemical reactivity (contains animated model of the benzene pi-molecular orbitals).

http://www.chem.fsu.edu/schwartz/CHM2211/Reactions/arenes/rxns.html Reaction summary of arenes.

http://www.towson.edu/~sweeting/orgrxs/aromat/benzenrx.htm Electrophilic substitution for benzen.

[Back to top]

 

Virtual experiments

Reaction with substituted benzens

Reactions for o-, m-, p-substituted arenes with tetracyanoethylen. The colour of the complex is connected with the electron density of aromatic ring.

Reactions for substituted (withdrawing and donating substituents) and arenes with tetracyanoethylen. The colour of the complex is connected with the electron density of aromatic ring.

[Back to top]

 

Problems and tests

http://www.mp-docker.demon.co.uk/chains_and_rings/topics_1-3/index.html The assignement consists of five quizzes: alkanes, alkenes, arenes and halogenocompounds.

http://www.organicchemistryonline.com/OCOL/CH15.HTM Aromaticity and arenes. Brief reviews and problem sets.

http://www.towson.edu/~sweeting/orgrxs/aromat/aromquiz.htm Quiz on aromtic compounds.

http://www.wpbschoolhouse.btinternet.co.uk/page07/Aromatics/AromaticQsa.htm

http://www.creative-chemistry.org.uk/funstuff/index.htm Creative chemistry fun stuff index - games, tests and quizzes.

http://www.learnchem.net/quiz/colympiad/ Contains old chemistry olympiad tests.

[Back to top]

 

 

 

Internet Resources
Hydrocarbons
  • Alkanes
  • Alkenes
  • Alkynes
  • Arenes
  • Fuels
  • Ecology
  • Aromatic Hydrocarbons