Electron donating groups are generally ortho/para directors for electrophilic aromatic substitutions, while electron withdrawing groups are generally meta directors with the exception of the halogens which are also ortho/para directors as they have lone pairs of electrons that are shared with the aromatic ring.
What are electron donating groups examples?
Examples of good electron donating groups are groups with lone pairs to donate, such as:
- The oxygen anion, -O. -
- Alcohol groups, -OH.
- Amine groups, -NH2 or -NR. ...
- Ethers, -OR.
- Alkyl groups are also weakly electron-donating.
Is group electron donating or withdrawing?
Generally the groups which have lone pairs (to donate to the other atom) are in the category of electron donating groups. Electron withdrawing groups: The groups which withdraw the electrons from the atom to which they are attached during the reaction, are known as electron withdrawing groups.
