Question

Aldehydes ketones and carboxylic acid halogenation

Answer 1

Halogenation of saturated aldehydes and ketones usually occurs exclusively by replacement of hydrogens alpha to the carbonyl group:


The reagents that commonly are used to halogenate carbonyl compounds are those that are used to halogenate alkanes (e.g. \(\ce{Cl_2}\), \(\ce{Br_2}\), \(\ce{SO_2Cl_2}\), and N-bromoamides;
However, the characteristics of the two types of halogenation normally are very different. 2-Propanone has been particularly well studied, and the important features of the halogenation of this compound.