Hydrocarbons Part 2

Concept:Friedel-Crafts acylation fails with strongly deactivating groups like $-\mathrm{NO}_2$ because the ring becomes too electron-deficient to attack the electrophile.Explanation:Benzene undergoes nitration to form nitrobenzene.The $-\mathrm{NO}_2$ group is a strong electron withdrawing group.It reduces the electron density of the benzene ring drastically.Thus, nitrobenzene is highly deactivated.Friedel-Crafts acylation (using $\mathrm{CH}_3\mathrm{COCl} / \mathrm{AlCl}_3$) requires a sufficiently reactive aromatic ring.Due to strong deactivation, nitrobenzene does not react under these conditions.Hence, the product shown in Statement I is not formed.Statement II correctly states that $-\mathrm{NO}_2$ is meta-directing and deactivating.Answer:A. Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct