Moderate

Reaction of CH3CH2MgBr with ethylene epoxide gives:

Correct answer: B. 1 - butanol

  • A. Ethanal
  • B. 1 - butanol
  • C. 2 - butanol
  • D. Butane

Explanation

The reaction of CH3CH2MgBr (ethylmagnesium bromide) with ethylene oxide (ethylene epoxide) typically results in the formation of 1,2-propanediol. This reaction is an example of a nucleophilic substitution reaction in which the nucleophilic carbon of the organometallic reagent attacks the electrophilic carbon of the epoxide, leading to the formation of an alcohol.The reaction can be represented by the following equation:CH3CH2MgBr + C2H4O-> CH3CH2CH2OHIn this reaction, the ethylmagnesium bromide acts as a nucleophile, attacking the epoxide ring and displacing the bromide ion. The resulting intermediate is an alkoxide ion, which quickly protonates to form the corresponding alcohol, 1,2-propanediol.It's important to note that the reaction conditions, such as temperature, solvent, and presence of any catalysts, can influence the outcome of the reaction. However, under typical conditions, the reaction described above is the most common result.Ethylene epoxide reacts with Grignard's Reagent to produce an additive product, which upon hydrolysis yields a primary alcohol. The type of primary alcohol depends upon the number of C atoms in the grignard reagent's 'R' group (RMgX).Since we have two C in Grignard's Reagent and two in ethylene epoxide, the total number of carbon atoms in primary alcohol will be four, so the name of the alcohol formed is 1-butanol.

Last updated

About Alkyl Halides

Alkyl halides are named and related to their carbon-halogen structure, polarity and reactivity. The key reactions are nucleophilic substitution by SN1 and SN2 mechanisms and elimination by E1 and E2 mechanisms, including how substrate structure, nucleophile, base, solvent and temperature influence substitution versus elimination.

Practise Alkyl Halides

458 free Alkyl Halides MCQs from Chemistry, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Exams that ask Chemistry questions like this

Chemistry is on 12 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

Related questions