Question

Why is it unnecessary to include an aluminum trihalide in electrophilic aromatic bromination reaction of acetanilide wih molecular bromine?

Answer 1

Many electrophilic aromatic halogenations require the presence of an aluminum trihalide as a catalyst. We generally acetylated the amino group as protection. Now, this acetanilide can be brominated at Ortho or para position. An atom that is attached to an aromatic system usually hydrogen is replaced by an electrophile is an organic reaction which is called Electrophilic aromatic substitution. There are what you called important electrophilic aromatic substitutions they are aromatic nitration, aromatic sulfonation, aromatic halogenation and acylation and alkylating Friedel-Crafts reaction. Aromatic bromination is an electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) reaction, which will require benzene to act as a nucleophile to acquire an electrophile. Therefore, any directing groups that activate the ring will make it react more quickly with respect to aromatic bromination. Acetanilide is a moderately-activated ring having a decent EWG.