Concept used: directing effects in electrophilic aromatic substitution

In benzene derivatives:

• Electron-donating groups generally direct incoming electrophiles to ortho/para positions.
• Electron-withdrawing groups generally direct incoming electrophiles to the meta position.

Common meta-directing groups are: $-\mathrm{NO_2},\ -\mathrm{CHO},\ -\mathrm{COR},\ -\mathrm{COOH},\ -\mathrm{COOR},\ -\mathrm{CN},\ -\mathrm{SO_3H}$

Common ortho/para-directing groups are: $-\mathrm{NH_2},\ -\mathrm{NHR},\ -\mathrm{OCH_3},\ -\mathrm{NHCOCH_3}$

Check each option

Option A

$-\mathrm{CN},\ -\mathrm{NH_2},\ -\mathrm{NHR},\ -\mathrm{OCH_3}$

• $-\mathrm{CN}$ is meta directing
• $-\mathrm{NH_2}$ is ortho/para directing
• $-\mathrm{NHR}$ is ortho/para directing
• $-\mathrm{OCH_3}$ is ortho/para directing

So this set is not entirely meta directing.

Option B

$-\mathrm{CN},\ -\mathrm{CHO},\ -\mathrm{NHCOCH_3},\ -\mathrm{COOR}$

• $-\mathrm{CN}$ is meta directing
• $-\mathrm{CHO}$ is meta directing
• $-\mathrm{NHCOCH_3}$ is ortho/para directing (amide attached through N donates by resonance)
• $-\mathrm{COOR}$ is meta directing

So this set is not entirely meta directing.

Option C

$-\mathrm{NO_2},\ -\mathrm{NH_2},\ -\mathrm{COOH},\ -\mathrm{COOR}$

• $-\mathrm{NO_2}$ is meta directing
• $-\mathrm{NH_2}$ is ortho/para directing
• $-\mathrm{COOH}$ is meta directing
• $-\mathrm{COOR}$ is meta directing

So this set is not entirely meta directing.

Option D

$-\mathrm{NO_2},\ -\mathrm{CHO},\ -\mathrm{SO_3H},\ -\mathrm{COR}$

• $-\mathrm{NO_2}$ is meta directing
• $-\mathrm{CHO}$ is meta directing
• $-\mathrm{SO_3H}$ is meta directing
• $-\mathrm{COR}$ is meta directing

So this set is entirely meta directing.

Final answer

The correct option is: $\boxed{\text{D}}$

Comparison with stored correct answer

Stored correct answer: D

My derived answer: D

Hence, they agree.