1 Classification reactions Bromine addition

The classification of hydrocar bons as aliphatic or ar omatic took place in the 1860s when it was aheady apparent that there was something special about benzene, toluene, and their- derivatives. Their molecular- for-mulas (benzene is CgHg, toluene is CyKj ) indicate that, like alkenes and alkynes, they are unsaturated and should undergo addition reactions. Under conditions in which bromine, for example, reacts rapidly with alkenes and alkynes, however, benzene proved to be inert. Benzene does react with Br-2 in the presence of iron(III) bromide as a catalyst, but even then addition isn t observed. Substitution occurs instead ... 

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