In: Chemistry
Why pyridine is less reactive than benzene towards electrophilic substitution reaction?
Because the nitrogen atom in the pyridine ring is electronegative, it has an electron withdrawing action, pulling electron density away from the ring and towards itself. As a result, lowering the electron density of the pyridine ring (by lowering the ring's nucleophilic character) makes it less reactive to electrophilic substitution processes.
Nitrogen present on pyridine is more electronegative.