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Organic Chemistry

can give me the mechanism of Wurtz reaction and which alkane is prepared when different mixture alkanes are used in the reaction and what will be the major product in that case

Profile image of Anubhav Sharma
14 Years agoGrade
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Profile image of Swapnil Saxena
ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer14 Years ago

Mechanism of Wurtz reaction formation of alkyl free radical species frm alkyl halides (especially bromides as formation of radical is easier in case of bromide )in the presence of Na/ether. Wurtz reaction can be used to make symmetrical as well as non symmetrical alkanes with carbon no. greater than 1.

When mixture alkanes r used generaly a large no of undesired byproducts r also obatined.

For example when ethyl bromide and propyl bromide r mixed the desired product is pentane, but hexane, butane,(symmetrical alkanes) ethene, ethane, propene, propane (Products of disproportionation) r also obtained.

The major product is determined with stability of alkyl free radical