mechanism of halogenation of methane?
Answers
What is the mechanism of halogenation of ethane?
Halogenation often does not stop at mono substitution. Depending on reaction conditions, the chlorination of methane yields dichloromethane, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride.
1] Splitting or hemolysis of a chlorine molecule to form two chlorine atoms, initiated by ultraviolet radiation or sunlight. A chlorine atom has an unpaired electron and acts as a free radical.
2] chain propagation : a hydrogen atom is pulled off from methane leaving a primary methyl radical. The methyl radical then pulls a Cl• from Cl2.
This results in the desired product plus another chlorine radical. This radical will then go on to take part in another propagation reaction causing a chain reaction. If there is sufficient chlorine, other products such as CH2Cl2 may be formed.
In the case of methane or ethane, all the hydrogen atoms are equivalent and thus have an equal chance of being replaced.
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