How to convertEthyl bromide to methoxy ethane
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EtBr + MeONa → EtOMe + NaBr
You should do this in a solvent of MeOH and heat the reaction.
MeONa (sodium methoxide) is basic and exists as MeO- Na+ (when in solution)
MeO- attacks the EtBr at the carbon atom bonded to the bromide and ‘kicks-out’ the bromide ion. This bromide ion goes on to form a salt with the sodium ion which will be floating in solution nearby.
If water was used as the solvent we would get ethanol (EtOH) as the product:
MeONa + H2O → MeOH + NaOH. This NaOH (sodium hydroxide) would react instead with the ethylbromide:
EtBr + NaOH → EtOH + NaBr,
This happens because H2O’s H (proton) is more ‘loosely bound’ to the oxygen atom than the MeOH’s H. (This means that H2O is a stronger bronsted-lowry acid than MeOH).
Hope this helps.
You should do this in a solvent of MeOH and heat the reaction.
MeONa (sodium methoxide) is basic and exists as MeO- Na+ (when in solution)
MeO- attacks the EtBr at the carbon atom bonded to the bromide and ‘kicks-out’ the bromide ion. This bromide ion goes on to form a salt with the sodium ion which will be floating in solution nearby.
If water was used as the solvent we would get ethanol (EtOH) as the product:
MeONa + H2O → MeOH + NaOH. This NaOH (sodium hydroxide) would react instead with the ethylbromide:
EtBr + NaOH → EtOH + NaBr,
This happens because H2O’s H (proton) is more ‘loosely bound’ to the oxygen atom than the MeOH’s H. (This means that H2O is a stronger bronsted-lowry acid than MeOH).
Hope this helps.
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