Editing Substitution reaction (section)

== Electrophilic substitution ==
{{Main|Electrophilic substitution}}
[[Electrophile]]s are involved in [[electrophilic substitution]] reactions, particularly in [[electrophilic aromatic substitution]]s.

In this example, the benzene ring's electron resonance structure is attacked by an electrophile E<sup>+</sup>. The resonating bond is broken and a carbocation resonating structure results. Finally a proton is kicked out and a new aromatic compound is formed.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Electrophilic aromatic substitution
|[[File:Electrophilic_aromatic_substitution.svg|Electrophilic aromatic substitution]]
|- align="center"
!<small>'''1:''' Free benzene + electrophile; '''2a:''' Benzene attacks electrophile;</small>
<small>'''2b:''' Resonance of benzene-electrophile intermediate; '''3:''' Substituted reaction product</small>
|}


Electrophilic reactions to other unsaturated compounds than [[Arene|arenes]] generally lead to [[electrophilic addition]] rather than substitution.