3.3.2

Substitution Reactions of Haloalkanes

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Nucleophilic Substitution

Haloalkanes react with nucleophiles in a nucleophilic substitution reaction. This mechanism is a one-step process.

Nucleophilic substitution

Nucleophilic substitution

  • The mechanism for nucleophilic substitution with hydroxide ions is shown above.
    • This makes an alcohol.
With ammonia

With ammonia

  • Nucleophilic substitution can be used to make amines. This is shown above.
With cyanide ions

With cyanide ions

  • Nucleophilic substitution can be used to make nitriles. This is shown above.
Reactivity

Reactivity

  • The reactivity of haloalkanes decreases in the order I > Br > Cl > F.
  • This is because the C-I bond is weakest and the C-F bond is strongest.
  • For the haloalkane to react, the C-X bond must break (X means any halogen).
  • This means that the activation energy is highest for a haloalkane with a carbon-fluorine bond and the reaction is therefore slowest.
Jump to other topics
1

Physical Chemistry

1.1

Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry

1.2

Atomic Structure

1.3

Chemical Bonding

1.4

States of Matter

1.5

Chemical Energetics

1.6

Electrochemistry

1.7

Equilibria

1.8

Partition Coefficient

1.9

Reaction Kinetics

2

Inorganic Chemistry

3

Organic Chemistry & Analysis

3.1

Introduction to Organic Chemistry

3.2

Hydrocarbons

3.3

Halogen Derivatives

3.4

Hydroxy Compounds

3.5

Carbonyl Compounds

3.6

Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives

3.7

Nitrogen Compounds

3.8

Polymerisation

3.9

Analytical Techniques

3.10

Organic Synthesis

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