formation of alkylhalides from alcohols

Formation of alkyl halides from alcohols

Alcohols react with a variety of reagents to yield alkyl halides. The most commonly used reagents are hydrogen halides (HCl, HBr and HI) phosphorus tribromide (PBr₃) and thionyll chloride.

Examples

The order of reactivity of hydrogen halides is HI> HBr> HCl whereas the order of reactivity of alcohols is 3⁰> 2⁰> 1⁰. The reaction of HCl with alcohol is catalyzed by anhydrous zinc chloride. The reaction is used to distinguish between primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols.

• Tertiary alcohol react readily with HCl in presence of anhydrous zinc chloride to form an insoluble chloride giving two layers immediately.
• Secondary alcohols form two layer in 50 -10minutes
• Primary alcohol do not form layers at room temperature.

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