Concerted Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution Reactions

Abstract

Recent developments in experimental and computational chemistry have identified a rapidly growing class of nucleophilic aromatic substitutions that proceed by concerted (cS _NAr) rather than classical, two‐step, S _NAr mechanisms. Whereas traditional S _NAr reactions require substantial activation of the aromatic ring by electron‐withdrawing substituents, such activating groups are not mandatory in the concerted pathways.

Abstract

Concerted or stepwise? A class of nucleophilic aromatic substitutions has been developed that proceeds by concerted (cS _NAr) rather than classical, two‐step, S _NAr mechanisms. Whereas traditional S _NAr reactions require substantial activation of the aromatic ring by electron‐withdrawing substituents, such activating groups are not mandatory in the concerted pathways.