Electrophilic Halogenation

Electrophilic Halogenation

In organic chemistry, an electrophilic aromatic halogenation is a type of electrophilic aromatic substitution. This organic reaction is typical of aromatic compounds and a very useful method for adding substituents to an aromatic system.

A few types of aromatic compounds, such as phenol, will react without a catalyst, but for typical benzene derivatives with less reactive substrates, a Lewis acid catalyst is required. Typical Lewis acid catalysts include AlCl₃, FeCl₃, FeBr₃, and ZnCl₂. These work by forming a highly electrophilic complex which attacks the benzene ring.