Question

To synthesize a pure secondary alkyl halide which alcohol should be treated with hbr

Answer 1

A pure secondary alkyl halide will be formed from a reaction of HBr with a secondary alcohol that has a chiral carbon. This means the carbon bonded to the (OH) will have three additional different substituents. For instance CH₃CH(OH)CH₂CH₃ would have a methyl (CH₃), ethyl(CH₂CH₃), $^{-} (OH)$ and halide $H^{-}$ bonded tothe central carbon. Since it is a chiral central carbon the Br- attacks from the backside which leads to inversion of configuration and a product of pure secondary alkyl halide.