- #1
avistein
- 48
- 1
Why anhydrous ZnCl2 is required for 1 degree alcohols to convert into alkyl halides? It is a SN2 reaction; so the weakening of C-OH bond can be done with H+ of HCl. Oxygen from the OH group can donate its lone pair to H+ and O develops a positive charge which weakens the C-OH bond.Then bond between C and Cl will be forming and bond between C and O will be breaking in the transition state.Then what is the necessity of anhydrous ZnCl2?