Alkylation of alkyl halides

Radicals for addition reactions can be generated by halogen atom abstraction by stannyl radicals. The chain mechanism for alkylation of alkyl halides by reaction with a substituted alkene is outlined below. There are three reactions in the propagation cycle of this chain mechanism addition, hydrogen atom abstraction, and halogen atom transfer. 

The resulting mechanism is therefore the usual one allowing, e.g., the Williamson ether synthesis through alkylation of alkyl halides with alcohols in the presence of 50% NaOH and Bu4N HS04 as catalyst [27]. 

Radicals for addition reactions can be generated by halogen-atom abstraction by stannyl radicals. The chain mechanism for alkylation of alkyl halides by reaction with a substituted alkene is outlined below. There are three reactions in the propagation cycle of this chain mechanism, shown in Fig. 10,3. The rates of each of these steps must exceed those of competing chain termination reactions in order for good yields to be obtained. The most important competitions are between the addition step and reaction of the intermediate R- with Bu3SnH and between the H-abstraction step ki and addition to another molecule of the alkene. If the addition step is not fast enough, the radical R- will... 

Cuprates have been used in organic synthesis since Kharash, in 1941, observed the catalysis by cuprous ions in the 1,4 addition of Grignard reagents on enones. Cuprates allow the alkylation of alkyl halides, carbonyl groups, nitriles, epoxides and enones (see Chap. 21.3.1). 

They are also very useful for the alkylation of alkyl halides and enones forming C-C bonds. 

Davis introduced some complimentary strategies for the synthesis of functional ionic liquids, by the inclusion of functional group (FG) to the cationic skeleton, in his review (Davis, 2004). The called "task-specific ionic liquids" have been synthesized, for example, by N-alkylation of alkyl halides covalently linked to FG with appropriate Lewis bases (e.g., imidazole, amine, phosphine, and sulfide Scheme 2a), accompanied by the anion metathesis to realize ionic liquids. One of other strategies is to use Michael reaction of alkyl vinyl ketones linked to FG with tertiary cations, as in Scheme 2b (Wasserscheid et al., 2003). It is noteworthy that this facile one-pot reaction dispenses with the need for a further anion metathesis step and are free from haUde-containing by-product. 

N,N,N, N -tetramethyl-l,8,-naph-thalenediamiDe M.P. 51 C. A remarkably strong mono-acidic base (pKg 12-3) which is almost completely non-nucleophilic and valuable for promoting organic elimination reactions (e.g. of alkyl halides to alkenes) without substitution. 

Wuftz synthesis Alkyl halides react with sodium in dry ethereal solution to give hydrocarbons. If equimolecular amounts of two different halides are used, then a mixture of three hydrocarbons of the types R — R, R — R and R —R, where R and R represent the original radicals, will be formed. The yields are often poor owing to subsidiary reactions taking place. 

Sheppard N and De La Cruz C 1998 Vibrational spectra of hydrocarbons adsorbed on metals. Part II. Adsorbed acyclic alkynes and alkanes, cyclic hydrocarbons including aromatics and surface hydrocarbon groups derived from the decomposition of alkyl halides, etc Adv. Catal. 42 181-313... 

A wide class of aiyl-based quaternary surfactants derives from heterocycles such as pyridine and quinoline. The Aralkyl pyridinium halides are easily synthesized from alkyl halides, and the paraquat family, based upon the 4, 4 -bipyridine species, provides many interesting surface active species widely studied in electron donor-acceptor processes. Cationic surfactants are not particularly useful as cleansing agents, but they play a widespread role as charge control (antistatic) agents in detergency and in many coating and thin film related products. 

By the action of alkyl halides on the silver salt of the acid. 

The Alkyl Halides. Ethyl bromide and iodide (see below) are typical alkyl halides. Compounds of this class are of very great importance in synthetic work, owing to the reactivity of the halogen atom. This is illustrated by the following reactions ... 

The alkyl halides are also of great importance in synthetic operations (e.g.) using Grigard reagents (p. 280). acetoacetic ester (p. 269) and malonic ester (p. 2- S)-... 

By the action of potassium cyanide on the corresponding alkyl halide. 

Thiourea, unlike urea, readily reacts in the tautomeric form (I) in the presence of suitable reagents, particularly alkyl halides thus benzyl chloride reacts with... 

The preparation of pure primary amines by the interaction of alkyl halides and ammonia is very difficult, because the primary amine which is formed reacts with unchanged alkyl halide to give the secondary amine the latter... 

This direct sulphonation should be compared with the indirect methods for the preparation of aliphatic sulphonic acids, e.g., oxidation of a thiol (RSH -> RSOjH), and interaction of an alkyl halide with sodium sulphite to give the sodium sulphonate (RBr + Na,SO, -> RSO,Na + NaBr). 

Substitution Derivatives of Ethyl Malonate, Ethyl malonate resembles ethyl acetoacetate in that it gives rise to mono- and di-substituted derivatives in precisely similar circumstances. Thus when ethanolic solutions of ethyl malonate and of sodium ethoxide are mixed, the sodium derivative (A) of the enol form is produced in solution. On boiling this solution with an alkyl halide, e.g, methyl iodide, the methyl derivative (B) of the keto form is obtained. When this is treated again in ethanolic solution with sodium ethoxide, the... 

The Friedel-Crafts Reaction, in which an aromatic hydrocarbon reacts with an alkyl halide under the influence of aluminium chloride ... 

The preparation of acetophenone (p. 255) is a modification of this method, the alkyl halide being replaced by an acid chloride, with the consequent formation of a ketone. 

The Fittig Reaction, in which sodium reacts with a mixture of an aryl and an alkyl halide, forming the sodium halide and the corresponding hydrocarbon ... 

When an alkyl halide is heated with a trialkyl phosphite, an ester of a phos-phonic acid is produced. This is known as the Arbusov Reaction ... 

Formation of 2 naphthyl ethers. Alkyl halides and aryl-alkyl halides (e.g. benzyl chloride) are converted into 2-naphthyl ethers thus ... 

The following are some of the most important reactions of alkyl halides which will assist in their identification. 

Place a mixture of 0-5 g. of finely powdered thiourea, 0-5 g. of the alkyl halide and 5 ml. of alcohol in a test-tube or small flask equipped with a reflux condenser. Reflux the mixture for a j)eriod depending upon the nature of the halide primary alkyl bromides and iodides, 10-20 minutes (according to the molecular weight) secondary alkyl bromides or iodides, 2-3 hours alkyl chlorides, 3-5 hours polymethy lene dibromides or di-iodides, 20-50 minutes. Then add 0 5 g. of picric acid, boil until a clear solution is obtained, and cool. If no precipitate is obtained, add a few drops of water. RecrystaUise the resulting S-alkyl-iso-thiuronium picrate from alcohol. 

Picrates of p-naphthyl alkyl ethers. Alkyl halides react with the sodium or potassium derivative of p-naphthol in alcoholic solution to yield the corresponding alkyl p-naphthyl ethers (which are usually low m.p. solids) and the latter are converted by alcoholic picric acid into the crystalline picrates ... 

Mix together 1 0 g. of pure p-naphthol and the theoretical quantity of 50 per cent, potassium hydroxide solution, add 0-5 g. of the halide, followed by sufficient rectified spirit to produce a clear solution. For alkyl chlorides, the addition of a little potassium iodide is recommended. Heat the mixture under reflux for 15 minutes, and dissolve any potassium halide by the addition of a few drops of water. The p-naphthyl ether usually crystallises out on cooling if it does not, dilute the solution with 10 per cent, sodium hydroxide solution untU precipitation occurs. Dissolve the p-naphthyl ether in the minimum volume of hot alcohol and add the calculated quantity of picric acid dissolved in hot alcohol. The picrate separates out on cooling. Recrystallise it from rectified spirit. 

Strictly speaking the alkyl halides are esters of the halogen acids, but since they enter into many reactions (t.g., formation of Grignard reagents, reaction with potassium cyanide to yield nitriles, etc.) which cannot be brought about by the other eaters, the alkyl halides are usually distinguished from the esters of the other inorganic acids. The preparation of a number of these is described below. 

Mixed ethers may be prepared by the interaction of an. alkyl halide and a sodium alkoxide (Williamson s synthesis), for example ... 

Higher alcohols (> C3) react comparatively slowly with sodium because of the slight solubility of the sodium alkoxide in the alcohol a large excess (say, 8 mols) is therefore employed. The mixed ether is distilled off, and the process (formation of alkoxide and its reaction with the alkyl halide) may be repeated several times. The excess of alcohol can be recovered. cj/cloAliphatic alcohols form sodio compounds with difficulty if small pieces... 

These are readily available from the interaction of alkyl halides with sodium or potas slum oyanide in aqueous alooholic solution (compare Section 111,113). 

In the conversion of alcohols into alkyl halides, the mechanism is probably ... 

The sodio derivative, which is prepared by mixing alcoholic solutions of the ester and of sodium ethoxide, condenses with alkyl halides to yield mono-alkyl C-substituted products, for example ... 

The mono-alkyl C-substituted derivatives of ethyl acetoacetate upon treatment with sodium ethoxide and another molecule of alkyl halide afford the di-alkyl C-substituted products... 

If only the monocarboxybc acid is required, the ester after hydrolysis with potash may be strongly acidified with sulphuric acid and the mixture heated under reflux the mineral acid promotes decarboxylation at a temperature just above 100°. The net result is the replacement of the halogen atom of the alkyl halide by —CH COOH thus in the above example ... 

The monosubstituted malonic ester still possesses an activated hydrogen atom in its CH group it can be converted into a sodio derivative (the anion is likewise mesomeric) and this caused to react with an alkyl halide to give a C-disubstituted malonic ester. The procedure may accordingly be employed for the synthesis of dialkyImalonic and dialkylacetic acids ... 

Where R and R are identical, the dialkylmalonic ester may be prepared in one operation by treating 1 mol of ethyl malonate with 2 mots each of sodium ethoxide and the alkyl halide (usually bromide or iodide). 

Mercaptans (or thio-alcohols or thiols), the sulphur analogues of the alcohols, were formerly prepared by the interaction of an alkyl halide and sodium hydrosulphide in alcoholic solution ... 

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