The compound which on reacting with aniline will not form an acetanilide is A. B. C. D.

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The correct answer is $\boxed{\text{D}}$.

Acetanilide is formed when aniline reacts with acetic anhydride. The reaction is a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction, in which the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom of aniline attacks the carbonyl carbon of acetic anhydride. This results in the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate, which collapses to form acetanilide and acetic acid.

The compound in $\text{D}$ is 4-nitroaniline. 4-Nitroaniline is a deactivated aromatic compound, which means that it is less reactive towards electrophilic substitution reactions. This is because the nitro group is an electron-withdrawing group, which destabilizes the aromatic ring. As a result, 4-nitroaniline is not likely to react with acetic anhydride to form acetanilide.

The compounds in $\text{A}$, $\text{B}$, and $\text{C}$ are all activated aromatic compounds, which means that they are more reactive towards electrophilic substitution reactions. This is because the alkyl groups are electron-donating groups, which stabilize the aromatic ring. As a result, these compounds are likely to react with acetic anhydride to form acetanilide.