Question

Between 1865 and 1890, other possible structures were proposed for benzene such as those shown here. Considering what nineteenth-century chemists knew about benzene, which is a better proposal for benzene’s structure, Dewar benzene or Ladenburg benzene? Why?

Short answer

Ladenburg benzene is better proposal as it can form one monosubstituted compound and three disubstituted compound.

Dewar benzene is not accordance with early chemist knew about the structure of benzene, because it would form two monosubstituted compound and six disubstituted compound and it will undergo electrophilic substitution reaction.

Step-by-step solution

Structures

Ladenburg benzene=

Dewar benzene=

Final answer

Ladenburg benzene is better proposal as it can form one monosubstituted compound and three disubstituted compound.

Dewar benzene is not accordance with early chemist knew about the structure of benzene, because it would form two monosubstituted compound and six disubstituted compound and it will undergo electrophilic substitution reaction.