Odd-Carbon Alkanes: Why Wurtz Can't Help

[anigeo]

why can wurtz reaction not be used to produced an alkane consisting of an odd nos. of carbon atoms?could you please explain me the reaction when i make two dissimilar alkyl halides react.

 

[Borek]

You really should try before asking.

Think: how many products are possible when you react R-X with R'-X?

 

[agnibho]

@anigeo Try to understand the definite mechanism of a wurtz reaction with similar alkanes first. Then using that knowledge try to figure the answer out! Will be waiting for your effort.

 

[Saitama]

Think: how many products are possible when you react R-X with R'-X?

Generally, two different alkyl halides are not used in Wurtz reaction. This is because of the high reactivity of organosodium compounds which couple with their parent alkyl halide as soon as they are formed.

 

[DeeNos]

The Wurtz reaction is a commonly used method for synthesizing alkanes, but it is not suitable for producing odd-carbon alkanes. This is because the Wurtz reaction involves the coupling of two alkyl halides to form a new carbon-carbon bond, resulting in an even number of carbon atoms in the final product. Therefore, this reaction cannot be used to produce an alkane with an odd number of carbon atoms.

When two dissimilar alkyl halides are reacted in the Wurtz reaction, they will form a mixture of products with varying numbers of carbon atoms. This is because the reaction is not selective and can lead to the formation of multiple carbon-carbon bonds between the two alkyl halides. The exact products formed will depend on the specific alkyl halides used and the reaction conditions.

In conclusion, while the Wurtz reaction is a useful tool for synthesizing alkanes, it cannot be used to produce odd-carbon alkanes. Alternative methods, such as the Corey-House reaction or the Grignard reaction, may be more suitable for the synthesis of these compounds.