Synthesis of Aliphatic Molecules (U2,c4/6) Flashcards
Why are alkanes not particularly reactive?
Their bonds are non-polar.
Under what circumstances can alkanes react with halogens?
In the presence of UV light.
What are the three steps in a halogen + alkane chain reaction?
Propagation, initiation and termination.
What is homolytic fission?
When the bond splits evenly - the same thing happens to both atoms (one electron from the bond goes to one atom, and the other electron goes to the other atom)
What is heterolytic fission?
When the bond splits UNevenly - a different thing happens to each atom (one atom gets both electrons and the other gets none)
What are produced by homolytic fission?
Free radicals
What are produced by heterolytic fission?
Ions
What is an electrophile?
Electron-dependant species. Molecules or +ve ions that can accept an electron pair.
What is a nucleophile?
Electron-rich species. Molecules or -ve ions that can donate an electron pair.
What is a dative covalent bond?
A covalent bond in which Bothe electrons are supplied by the same atom (as in heterolytic fission)
What does a single-headed curly arrow indicate?
Movement of a single electron (radical chemistry mechanisms)
What does a double-headed curly arrow indicate?
Movement of an electron pair.
What would a curly arrow starting in the middle of a covalent bond indicate?
Heterolytic fission is occurring.
What would a curly arrow with the head pointing to a space between two atoms indicate?
A covalent bond is being formed between the two atoms.
What forms when an halogenoalkane reacts with an alkali (under reflux)?
What is the nucleophile here?
An alcohol.
OH- is the nucleophile.
What forms when an halogenoalkane reacts with an alcoholic alkoxide?
What is the nucleophile here?
An ether.
Oxide is the nucleophile.
What forms when an halogenoalkane reacts with ethanoic potassium/sodium cyanide?
What is the nucleophile here?
A nitrile.
Cyanide ion (CN) is the nucleophile.
Why is a monohaloalkane reacting with ETHANOLIC potassium//sodium hydroxide different from that with AQUEOUS potassium//sodium hydroxide.
The ethanolic solution causes an ELIMINATION reaction to occur, while the aqueous one causes a nucleophilic substitution.
What are the 3 different structural types of Monohaloalkane?
Primary, secondary and tertiary.
What are haloalkanes?
Subtituted alkanes - where one or more of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a halogen atom.
What are the two mechanisms by which a haloalkane undergoes a nucleophilic substitution called?
SN1 and SN2.
In an SN1 mechanism, what species is/are involved in the rate-determining step (RDS)?
Only the haloalkane
In an SN2 mechanism, what species is/are involved in the rate-determining step (RDS)?
Both the haloalkane and the nucleophile.
How many steps are in a SN1 process?
Two.
How many steps are in a SN2 process?
One.