An Unusually Fast Nucleophilic Aromatic Displacement Reaction: The Gas‐Phase Reaction of Fluoride Ions with Nitrobenzene

Quick reactions: The gas-phase nucleophilic displacement reaction of fluoride ions with nitrobenzene proceeds with a rate constant close to the collision limit. The calculated energy profile indicates that the reaction proceeds by an out-of-plane attack, with the Meisenheimer complex being the local transition state for the reaction (see picture).