wurtz reaction with mechanism
Answers
Wurtz Reaction is a chemical reaction , industrially used to prepare Alkanes. In this reaction alkyl halides are made to react with sodium metal in presence of anhydrous ether to give higher alkanes.
General Reaction :
2RX + Na/dry ether −> R−R
Where RX is the alkyl Halide and R-R is alkane produced.
Example :
2CH3Cl + Na/dry ether −> C2H6
Mechanism :
2 Na−> 2Na+ + 2e−
R−X + 2e− −> R−
R− + Na+ −> RNa
RNa + R− X −> R− R + 2NaX
Ether is used to stabilise the reaction. When Na metal looses its e− , it becomes unstable. Ether has lone pair of e− which it shares with Na+ ion to stabi
Wurtz Reaction Equation
As an example, we can obtain ethane by reacting methyl bromide with sodium in the presence of anhydrous ether or tetrahydrofuran. Here, a large alkane molecule is developed by the joining two compound of alkyl halide and eradicate the halogen atoms in the form of sodium halide.