Synthesis of haloalkanes

Written by J.A Dobado | Last Updated on April 22, 2024

On an industrial scale

Mainly chlorides, they are generally prepared by direct halogenation of hydrocarbons at high temperatures, by means of free radicals.

Although most of the time mixtures containing isomers and varying amounts of halogen are obtained. However, industrially they are useful, since these mixtures can be used as such.

preparation of fluoroalkanes
Preparation of fluoroalkanes from chloroalkanes.

Many fluorides, industrially, are obtained by substitution of the halogen in a halide, using inorganic fluorides as reagents.

preparation fluorides using inorganic fluorides
Preparation of fluorides using inorganic fluorides.

At laboratory scale

In the laboratory, sulfuryl chloride (SO2Cl2) or thionyl chloride (SOCl2) is used as a chlorinating agent, using an organic peroxide as a radical initiator.

synthesis of haloalkanes at lab scale
Synthesis of haloalkanes at lab scale.

The synthesis of haloalkanes can be performed using different methods listed below:

Synthesis of haloalkanes by the reaction of alcohols with hydrogen halide

The least reactive hydrogen halide (XH) is (HCl), as it requires the presence of zinc chloride (ZnCl2) to react the primary alcohols.

synthesis haloalkanes reaction alcohols hydrogen halide
Synthesis of haloalkanes by the reaction of alcohols with hydrogen halide.

However, terbutanol (t-BuOH) reacts readily by stirring with HCl at room temperature.

In general, the order of reactivity of alcohols is: tertiary (3º) > secondary (2º) > primary (1º).

Examples of synthesis of alcohols with hydrogen halide

1) Example of cyclohexanol with hydrogen bromide to yield bromocyclohexane.

reaction cyclohexanol hydrogen bromide yield bromocyclohexane
Reaction of cyclohexanol with hydrogen bromide to yield bromocyclohexane.

2) Example of propanol with hydrochloric acid and zinc chloride to give 1-chloropropane.

reaction propanol HCl zinc chloride 1-chloropropane
Reaction of propanol with hydrochloric acid and zinc chloride to give 1-chloropropane.

3) Example of terbutanol with concentrated hydrochloric acid to yield tert-butyl chloride.

reaction terbutanol HCl conc tert-butyl chloride
Reaction of terbutanol with HCl (conc.) to yield tert-butyl chloride.

Synthesis of haloalkanes by reaction with thionyl chloride.

The thionyl chloride (SOCl2) is a very useful reagent for converting alcohols to alkyl chloride, since the reaction products are alkyl chloride, HCl and SO2. Thus, these are gaseous and can be easily removed from the reaction crude.

synthesis haloalkanes reaction thionyl chloride
Synthesis of haloalkanes by reaction with thionyl chloride.

Synthesis of haloalkanes from alkenes and hydrogen halides.

An alkene can be converted to alkyl halide by reaction with hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide or hydrogen iodide. The reaction is carried out by passing dry gaseous hydrogen halide through the alkene.

synthesis haloalkanes alkenes hydrogen halides
Synthesis of haloalkanes from alkenes and hydrogen halides.

When the alkene is asymmetric, the addition takes place in a particular orientation.

synthesis haloalkanes alkenes hydrogen halides different orientation asymmetric alkenes
Different orientation in asymmetric alkenes.

The reaction can go two ways, but only one is favored. This preference as to the position or orientation in which molecules react with each other is called regioselectivity.

The regioselectivity in this particular reaction, addition of hydrogen halides, has long been known and follows the so-called Markovnikov’s rule.

“In the addition of a hydrogen halide to an asymmetric alkene, the halogen is added to the least hydrogenated carbon, that is, to the carbon atom that is most subject to the influence of the other carbon atoms.”

or

“In the ionic addition of an acid to the double bond of the alkene, the hydrogen of that one bonds to the carbon atom having the highest number of hydrogens.”

regioselectivity synthesis haloalkanes
Regioselectivity in the synthesis of haloalkanes.

These additions are discussed in more detail when studying alkene reactions. They occur with the formation of carbocations in the reaction.

In the case of HBr addition in the presence of organic peroxides, it involves the participation of free radicals and the orientation is different (anti-Markovnikov).

anti-Markovnikov orientation participationfree radicals
anti-Markovnikov orientation due to participation of free radicals.

Synthesis of haloalkanes from alkenes and halogens

Chlorine (Cl2) and bromine (Br2) are added to alkenes and transform them into saturated compounds containing two halogens attached to adjacent carbons. However, iodine (I2) does not react.

anti-Markovnikov orientation participationfree radicals
anti-Markovnikov orientation due to participation of free radicals.

The reaction is carried out with an inert solvent such as carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and proceeds rapidly at room temperature.

improving reaction room temperature using CCl4
Improving reaction at room temperature using CCl4.

Synthesis of haloalkanes from alkynes and halogens

Halogens, too, can be added to alkynes, except that in this case two moles of halogen are consumed.

synthesis haloalkanes alkynes halogens
Synthesis of haloalkanes from alkynes and halogens

Synthesis of haloalkanes from other halogens

Alkyl iodides are usually prepared from another halide by treatment with sodium iodide (NaI) in acetone (CH3COCH3).

synthesis haloalkanes alkynes halogens
Synthesis of haloalkanes from alkynes and halogens

 

Articles on the website