---
title: "Directing groups in aromatic substitution Template | MolDraw"
url: https://www.moldraw.com/templates/library-directing-groups/
description: "Directing groups in aromatic substitution template: Activating ortho/para directors, deactivating halogens and meta directors, each on a benzene ring.…"
lang: en
publisher: Scidart Academy
generated: 2026-10-28
---
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# Directing groups in aromatic substitution template

![Directing groups in aromatic substitution template: Activating ortho/para directors, deactivating halogens and meta directors, each on a benzene ring.](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/library-directing-groups.webp)

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Activating ortho/para directors, deactivating halogens and meta directors, each on a benzene ring.

## What the template shows

- Where the next electrophile goes on a substituted benzene, and whether the ring reacts faster or slower than benzene
- Activating · ortho/para
- donate electrons to the ring
- Deactivating · ortho/para
- Deactivating · meta
- withdraw electrons from the ring
- Benzenesulfonic acid
- Benzoic acid
- Lone-pair donors (–NH₂, –OH, –OR) stabilise the arenium ion for ortho and para attack.
- Halogens withdraw inductively (slower) but donate by resonance (ortho/para).

Drawn with 123 atoms, 36 shapes – every one editable in MolDraw.

## Sources

- [Clayden, Greeves & Warren, Organic Chemistry, 2nd ed., OUP 2012, ch. 21](https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780199270293) Textbook
- [Smith, March's Advanced Organic Chemistry, 8th ed., Wiley 2020](https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119371809) Textbook

## How to use this template

1. Press **Edit in MolDraw**. The template opens on the canvas of the free MolDraw editor.
2. Change anything: move structures, edit atoms and labels, recolour highlights or delete what you do not need.
3. Add your own structures, arrows and text next to it, or combine several templates on one page.
4. Export the drawing as PNG, SVG or PDF for slides, worksheets, theses and papers.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is the Directing groups in aromatic substitution template free?

You can preview the Directing groups in aromatic substitution template here and open and edit it in MolDraw for free. Downloading or exporting it is part of MolDraw Pro, together with the other premium templates.

### Can I edit the Directing groups in aromatic substitution template?

Yes. It opens as an ordinary MolDraw drawing, so every structure, arrow, label and colour can be changed, and you can add your own content around it.

### Is the chemistry checked?

Every structure is checked with RDKit and every curly arrow passes MolDraw’s electron-flow audit. The sources used are listed on this page.

### Which functional groups are included?

Alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, arenes, alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, amines, nitriles and more, each with an example.

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