[madscientist]

Ive got a question ive been working on and cannot find an answer.

Question states: Which of the following undergoes the most rapid sulfonation upon treatment with fuming sulfuric acid?

a.) benzoic acid

b.) benzonitrile

c.) benzene

d.)nitrobenzene

my working so far: I couldnt think of any other way of answering this question besides determining the activation/ deactivation abilitys of the substituants, for eg,  the NO2 substituant on nitrobenzene is deactivating, the COOH group on benzoic acid is also deactivating, the CN group on benzonitrile I am not sure whether or not this is activating or deactivating.

I can only guess that benzene (c.) is the correct answer?

I am very very lost with this q and any help would be appreciated.

cheers,

madscientist  :albert:

[Winga]

Cyano group is a deactivator and a meta director.

[madscientist]

Thanks very much for your helpfull reply Winga

cheers,

madscientist