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Question:

Which of the following can be used as the halide component for Friedel-Crafts reaction?

Isopropyl chloride

Bromobenzene

Chloroethene

Chlorobenzene

Solution:

Friedel-Crafts reaction is carried out by the generation of a carbocation. In chlorobenzene, bromobenzene, and chloroethene, the lone pair of electrons on the halogen atom is delocalized with the π bonds to attain double bond character. This delocalization makes the carbon-halogen bond less susceptible to cleavage, preventing the formation of the necessary carbocation intermediate. Therefore, only isopropyl chloride can be used as the halide component for a Friedel-Crafts reaction because it readily forms a carbocation. Hence, the correct option is Isopropyl chloride.