Methods of Preparation of Haloalkanes and Haloarenes, Reactions, FAQs

Alkyl halide (haloalkane) and aryl halide (haloarene) are formed when hydrogen atoms in an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon are replaced by halogen atoms. Haloalkanes have halogen atom(s) attached to an alkyl group’s sp3 hybridized carbon atom(s), whereas haloarenes have halogen atom(s) attached to an aryl group’s sp2 hybridized carbon atom(s). Many halogen-containing organic compounds exist in nature, and some of them have clinical applications.

Examples of Haloalkanes and Haloarenes:

Methods of Preparation of Haloalkanes

There are various methods to prepare haloalkanes. Haloalkanes can be prepared from alcohol, from hydrocarbons. Let’s take a look at all the methods,

From Alcohol 

When alcohol reacts with concentrated halogen acids, phosphorus halides, or thionyl chloride, the hydroxyl group is replaced by halogen. Thionyl chloride is preferred because alkyl halide is formed in this reaction along with the gases SO₂ and HCl. Because the two gaseous products are escapable, the reaction yields pure alkyl halides. The presence of a catalyst, ZnCl₂, is required for the reactions of primary and secondary alcohols with HCl. (R – Alkyl group) 

                                          ZnCl₂

•  R-OH + HCl —————–> R-Cl + H2O          
•  R-OH + PCl₃ —————> R-Cl + POCl₃ + HCl
•  R-OH + NaBr + H₂SO₄  —————–> R-Br + NaHSO₄ + H₂O
• 3R-OH + PX₃ —————> 3R-X + H₃PO₃ (X = Cl, Br)

                         red P/X₂

• R-OH —————> R-X

                       X₂ = Br₂, I₂         

• R-OH + SOCl₂ —————> R-Cl + SO₂ + HCl               

Alkyl chloride is produced by either passing dry hydrogen chloride gas through an alcohol solution or heating an alcohol-concentrated aqueous halogen acid mixture.

From Hydrocarbons 

1. From alkanes by free radical halogenation 

A complex mixture of isomeric mono- and polyhaloalkanes is formed when free radicals chlorinate or bromate alkanes, which is difficult to separate as pure compounds. As a result, the yield of any single compound is extremely low.

                                          Cl₂ / UV Light

• CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ ——————–> CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂Cl + CH₃CH₂CHClCH₃

                                               or Heat

       2. From alkenes 

• Addition of hydrogen halides: A reaction with hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, or hydrogen iodide converts an alkene to the corresponding alkyl halide.

• (CH₃)₂C=C(CH₃)₂ + HX —————–> (CH₃)₂C-CX(CH₃)₂

Propene yields two products:

• CH₃CH=CH₂ + H-I ——————–> CH₃CH₂CH₂I + CH₃CHICH₃

                                                                                    (Minor)               (Major)

Addition of halogens

In the laboratory, adding bromine in CCl₄ to an alkene results in the release of a reddish-brown color of bromine, which is an important method for detecting a double bond in a molecule. The reaction results in the formation of colorless vic-dibromides.

                                           CCl₄

CH₂=CH₂ + Br₂ ————————> BrCH₂-CH₂Br

                                                                      (vic-Dibromides)

Halogen Exchange 

Alkyl iodides are frequently synthesized by reacting alkyl chlorides/bromides with NaI in dry acetone. This reaction is also known as the Finkelstein reaction.

R-X + NaI ————–> R-I + NaX (X = Cl, Br)

Heat an alkyl chloride/bromide in the presence of a metallic fluoride to produce alkyl fluorides. such as AgF (silver fluoride), Hg₂F₂, CoF₂, or SbF₃. Swarts reaction is the name given to this reaction.

H₃C-Br + AgF ————–> H₃C-F + AgBr

Method of Preparation of Haloarenes 

Haloarenes can be prepared by various means, for instance, they can be prepared from hydrocarbons, amines. Let’s take a look at these methods in detail,

From hydrocarbons 

Aryl chlorides and bromides can be easily synthesized by electrophilic substitution of arenes with chlorine or bromine in the presence of Lewis acid catalysts such as iron or iron(III) chloride.

Because of the large difference in melting points, the ortho and para isomers can be easily separated.

From amines

From amines, haloarenes are made using Sandmeyer’s reaction. When an aromatic amine is dissolved in the solution of sodium nitrite then, a diazonium salt is formed. Freshly prepared diazonium salt is mixed with cuprous chloride or cuprous bromide, the diazonium group is replaced by the –Cl or –Br group.

The presence of cuprous halide is not required for iodine replacement of the diazonium group, which can be accomplished simply by shaking the diazonium salt with potassium iodide.

Conceptual questions

Question 1: Why isn’t sulphuric acid used in the alcohol-KI reaction?

Answer :  

We know that (H₂SO₄) sulfuric acid is an oxidizing agent, if we use it in an alcoholic KI reaction, it will convert KI to corresponding HI and oxidize the HI. That’s why sulfuric acid can not be used in the reaction of alcohols with KI.

Question 2: Identify all of the monochloro structural isomers that are likely to be formed during free radical monochlorination of (CH₃)₂CHCH₂CH₃.

Answer : 

When the monochlorination occurs the following 4 product will produce-

1. (CH₃)₂CHCH₂CH₂Cl, 
2. (CH₃)₂CHCH(Cl)CH₃, 
3. (CH₃)₂C(Cl)CH₂CH₃ and 
4. CH₃CH(CH₂Cl)CH₂CH₃.

Question 3: How to distinguish between C₂H₅Br and C₆H₅Br give chemical reaction test.

Answer :

Aqueous NaOH is used to heat both. C₂H₅Br produces ethanol and NaBr, which when combined with AgNO₃ produces a yellow precipitate of AgBr. This test yields no results for C₆H₅Br.

Question 4: What will be the major product when cyclohexene react with bromine in presence of heat- 

Answer:    

The above reaction gives 3-Bromocyclohexene.

Question 5: Why do haloalkanes dissolve so easily in organic solvents?

Answer:  

Because the new forces of attraction formed between haloalkanes and solvent molecules are as strong as the forces of attraction that are being broken.