Arrange the following compounds in order of their decreasing reactivity with an electrophile,`E^((+)`
i) Chlorobenzene
ii) 2,4- dinitrochlorobenzene
iii)` p`- nitrochlorobenzene

Options

A. C gt B gt A
B. B gt C gt A
C. A gt C gt B
D. A gt B gt C

Answer

C

Explanation

Electron-withdrawing groups in the benzene ring decrease the reactivity towards electrophilic substitution. Since Cl is a weaker electron-withdrawing group that `NO_2`, therefore , chlorobenzene (A) is more reactive than p-nitrochlorobenzene (C ) which , in turn, is more reactive than 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (B), i.e., option (c) is correct.