1. Wurtz Reaction
Fittig Reaction
Friedel-Crafts Alkylation and Acylation
Sandmeyer Reaction
Gattermann Reaction
Swarts Reaction
Wurtz Reaction
is a coupling reaction in organic chemistry named after Charles Adolphe Wurtz. The Wurtz reaction leads to the preparation of higher alkanes. It is also beneficial in preparing alkanes with an even number of carbon atoms.
Two alkyl halides react with sodium metal in dry ether to form a higher alkane
2R–X + 2Na → (dry ether) R–R + 2NaX – R = Alkyl group (like CH₃–, C₂H₅–) – X = Halogen (Cl, Br or I) – Na = Sodium metal – NaX = Sodium halide (like NaCl)
The Friedel-Crafts reaction is used to produce the important dying agent triarylmethane. So, in this article, you will get a deep knowledge of the Friedel-Crafts reaction. Benzene reacts with alkyl halide or acyl chloride in the presence of AlCl₃
Ar–H + R–X → (AlCl₃) Ar–H + HX – Ar–H = Aromatic compound (like benzene C₆H₆) – R = Alkyl group (CH₃–, C₂H₅– etc – AlCl₃ = Aluminium chloride (Lewis acid catalyst) – C₆H₅R = Alkyl benzene
Ar–H + RCOCl → (AlCl₃) Ar–COR + HCl – Ar–H = Aromatic hydrocarbon – RCOCl = Acyl chloride (or Acid Chloride), the acylating agent – Ar–COR = Acylarene (Aromatic Ketone) product – HCl = Hydrogen Chloride (by-product)
Alkylation
Acylation
2CH₃CHO + dil.NaOH→ CH₃CH(OH)CH2CHO On heating, CH₃CH(OH)CH2CHO→CH₃CH = CHCHO + H₂O – CHO = Aldehyde group – OH = Alcohol group
Alkyl chloride or bromide converts into alkyl fluoride using metal fluorides
Or commonly, R–X + SbF3 → R–F H₃C–X + AgF → H₃ R–F + AgX – R = Alkyl group – X = Cl or Br – H₃C = Methyl group – F = Fluorine – SbF₃, AgF, Hg₂F₂, CoF₂ = Fluorinating agents
R–X + AgF → R–F + AgX
Aldehydes or ketones reduce to hydrocarbons using hydrazine and base