Anisole is less reactive than phenol towards electrophilic substitution reactions. Justify your answer with proper reasoning.

Explanation

Both -OH and `-OCH_(3)` groups have +R-effect as shown below:

Structures (II to IV) involve separation of +ve and -ve charges. Similarly, structures (VII-IX) involve separation of +ve and -ve charges. But structures (II to IV) can stabilize themselves by releasing a proton which is a very stable chemical species.

In contrast, structures (VII-IX) cannot stabilize themselves by releasing a methyl carbocation which is a very unstable chemical sepcies. It is because of this extra stability of structures, II-IV through loss of a proton which is responsible for greater reactivity of phenol over anisole. for example, phenol reacts with `Br_(2)` water to give 2,4,6-tribromophenol but anisole does not react with `Br_(2)` water at all.