9/7/22, 8:58 PM Wurtz reaction - Wikipedia

Wurtz reaction
The Wurtz reaction, named after Charles Adolphe Wurtz, is a
Wurtz reaction
coupling reaction in organic chemistry, organometallic chemistry
and recently inorganic main-group polymers, whereby two alkyl Named after Charles
halides are reacted with sodium metal in dry ether solution to Adolphe Wurtz
form a higher alkane. In this reaction alkyl halides are treated Reaction type Coupling
with sodium metal in dry ethereal (free from moisture) solution reaction
to produce higher alkanes. It is also used for the preparation of
higher alkanes containing even number of carbon atoms: Identifiers
Organic wurtz-reaction
2 R−X + 2 Na → R−R + 2 Na+X− Chemistry Portal

Other metals have also been used to effect the Wurtz coupling,
among them silver, zinc, iron, activated copper, indium and a mixture of manganese and copper
chloride.[1] The related reaction dealing with aryl halides is called the Wurtz–Fittig reaction. This can
be explained by the formation of free radical intermediate and its subsequent disproportionation to
give alkene. The Wurtz reaction occurs through a free-radical mechanism that makes possible side
reactions producing alkene products.

Contents
Mechanism
Examples and reaction conditions
Limitations
See also
References

Mechanism
The reaction consists of a metal–halogen exchange involving the radical species R· (in a similar
fashion to the formation of a Grignard reagent) with carbon–carbon bond formation occurring in a
nucleophilic substitution reaction.

One electron from the metal is transferred to the halogen to produce a metal halide and an alkyl
radical:

R−X + M → R· + M+X−

The alkyl radical then accepts an electron from another metal atom to form an alkyl anion:

R· + M → R−M+

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This intermediate has been isolated in several cases.

The nucleophilic carbon of the alkyl anion then displaces the halide in an SN2 reaction, forming a new
carbon–carbon covalent bond:

R−M+ + R−X → R−R + M+X−

Examples and reaction conditions

Due to several limitations this reaction is seldom used. For example, it is intolerant of a range of
functional groups. Wurtz coupling is, however, useful in closing small, especially three-membered,
rings. Bicyclobutane was prepared this way from 1-bromo-3-chlorocyclobutane in 95% yield. The
reaction is conducted in refluxing dioxane, at which temperature, the sodium is liquid. This reaction
has poor yield which is a consequence of multiple product formation. In the case of (1,3), (1,4), (1,5),
(1,6) dihalides, it leads to formation of cyclic products. In vicinal dihalides, it forms alkenes, whereas
in geminal dihalides, it forms alkynes.[2]

Limitations
The Wurtz reaction is seldom used because of side reactions.[3] It has limited use to the synthesis of
symmetric alkanes. If two dissimilar alkyl halides are taken as reactants, then the product is a mixture
of alkanes that is often difficult to separate by fractional distillation as the differences between the
boiling points of the products are typically very low. Methane can not be obtained by this method.
This type of reaction fails in case of tertiary halides. Also, since the reaction involves free radical
species, a side reaction occurs to produce an alkene. This side reaction becomes more significant
when the alkyl halides are bulky at the halogen-attached carbon atom.

See also
Wurtz–Fittig reaction
Ullmann reaction

References
1. March Advanced Organic Chemistry 4th edition p. 535.
2. Gary M. Lampman and James C. Aumiller "Bicyclo[1.1.0]butane" Organic Syntheses, 1971,
volume 51, pp 55-9. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.051.0055 (https://doi.org/10.15227%2Forgsyn.051.005
5) Aditya Krishna "Dihalides Quartz"
3. March Advanced Organic Chemistry 7th edition p. 512

Adolphe Wurtz (1855). "Sur une nouvelle classe de radicaux organiques" (http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/
12148/bpt6k34785p/f274.table). Annales de chimie et de physique. 44: 275–312.
Adolphe Wurtz (1855). "Ueber eine neue Klasse organischer Radicale" (https://zenodo.org/record/
1427074). Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie. 96 (3): 364–375. doi:10.1002/jlac.18550960310
(https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fjlac.18550960310).
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Organic-chemistry.org (https://www.organic-chemistry.org)
Organic Chemistry, by Morrison and Boyd
Organic Chemistry, by Graham Solomons and Craig Fryhle, Wiley Publications

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