Explain the reason for the following:
Tertiary butyl iodide forms tertiary butyl alcohol with water, but with an alkali solution, it yields isobutylene (2-methyl propene).
Tertiary butyl iodide forms tertiary butyl alcohol with water due to SN1 mechanism. This reaction is carried out in polar solvents like water and alcohol. The reaction between tert-butyl iodide and hydroxide ion yields tert-butyl alcohol.In the case of alkali, solvent racemisation takes place. Due to the racemisation, the attack of the nucleophile may be accomplished from either side resulting in a mixture of the product. Hence isobutylene is formed.
Explain the reason for the following:
A primary alkylhalide, RX, reacts with KCN to give an alkyl cyanide and with AgCN to give an alkyl isocyanide as the major, product.
KCN is ionic in nature so it dissociates completely into K+ and CN- also, C-C bond is more stronger then C-N bond because of this when haloalkanes react with KCN to form alkyl cyanides.
AgCN is convalent in nature thus, it does not dissociate in to Ag+ and CN- and on nitrogen electron density is high thus haloalkane react with AgCN and isocyanide is form.
Switch
