Aromatic ring of acetophenone (C₆H₅COCH₃) undergoes electrophilic substitution. The carbonyl group is:
ADeactivating and meta-directing — the -COR group withdraws electron density by resonance (and -I)
BDeactivating and ortho/para-directing
CActivating and ortho/para-directing
DActivating and meta-directing
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Deactivating and meta-directing — the -COR group withdraws electron density by resonance (and -I)
**-COR (carbonyl group) is deactivating and meta-directing**: it withdraws electrons from the ring by resonance (the C=O π* accepts ring electron density) and inductively. **Ortho/para attack** would put the incoming electrophile near the EWG → destabilised → so **meta product dominates**.
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