REAGENTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

CHAPTER 1 - ALKYL AND ARYL HALIDES

1. **Sodium or Potassium Hydroxide (NaOH/KOH):**
- **Function:** Used in the hydrolysis of haloalkanes to form alcohols.
- **Example:** CH3CH2Cl + NaOH → CH3CH2OH + NaCl

2. **Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) in Ammonia (NH3):**

- **Function:** Used to test the presence of halides (Cl, Br, I) in organic compounds.
- **Example:** C6H5Cl + AgNO3/NH3 → C6H5AgCl (white precipitate)

3. **Zinc (Zn) in Acetic Acid (CH3COOH):**

- **Function:** Used in the Clemmensen reduction to convert ketones to alkanes.
- **Example:** CH3COCH3 + Zn/CH3COOH → CH3CH3

4. **Hydrogen (H2) in the Presence of a Catalyst (e.g., Pd, Pt, Ni):**

- **Function:** Used for the reduction of haloalkanes to form alkanes.
- **Example:** CH3CH2Cl + H2/Pd → CH3CH3

5. **Alcoholic KOH (Potassium Hydroxide):**

- **Function:** Used in the Williamson synthesis for the preparation of ethers.
- **Example:** C2H5OH + KOH → C2H5O^-K+ + H2O

6. **NaI in Acetone:**
- **Function:** Used in the Finkelstein reaction to convert haloalkanes to alkyl iodides.
- **Example:** CH3CH2Br + NaI/Acetone → CH3CH2I + NaBr

7. **Aluminum Chloride (AlCl3):**

- **Function:** Used as a Lewis acid catalyst in Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation reactions of benzene.
- **Example:** C6H6 + CH3Cl/AlCl3 → C6H5CH3 (Toluene)

8. **Sodium Amide (NaNH2):**

- **Function:** Used in the Hofmann bromamide degradation reaction to convert primary amides to primary
amines.
- **Example:** CH3CONH2 + Br2/NaNH2 → CH3NH2 + NaBr + Na2CO3

9. **Conc. H2SO4 (Sulfuric Acid):**

- **Function:** Used in the dehydration of alcohols to form alkenes.
- **Example:** CH3CH2OH + H2SO4 → CH2=CH2 + H2O

10. **Sodium in Liquid Ammonia (Birch Reduction):**

- **Function:** Used for the reduction of unsaturated compounds, like benzene rings.
- **Example:** C6H6 + 2Na/NH3 → C6H12 (Cyclohexane) + NaNH2

11. **Concentrated Hydrochloric Acid (HCl):**

- **Function:** Used in the hydrolysis of haloalkanes to form alkyl halides.
- **Example:** CH3CH2Cl + HCl → CH3CH2Cl + H2O

12. **Conc. Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4):**

- **Function:** Used for the dehydration of alcohols to form alkenes.
- **Example:** CH3CH2CH2OH + H2SO4 → CH3CH=CH2 + H2O

13. **Sodium Metal (Na) or Grignard Reagent (RMgX):**

- **Function:** Used to prepare alkanes, alkenes, or alkynes from haloalkanes.
- **Example:** CH3Cl + 2Na → CH4 + 2NaCl

14. **Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3):**

- **Function:** Used to neutralize acids and remove acidic impurities.
 - **Example:** CH3COOH + NaHCO3 → CH3COONa + H2O + CO2

15. **Phosphorus Pentachloride (PCl5) and Phosphorus Trichloride (PCl3):**

- **Function:** Used for the conversion of alcohols to alkyl halides.
- **Example:** CH3CH2OH + PCl5 → CH3CH2Cl + HCl + POCl3

16. **Fuming Nitric Acid (HNO3):**

- **Function:** Used in the nitration of aromatic compounds (e.g., benzene).
- **Example:** C6H6 + HNO3 → C6H5NO2 + H2O

17. **Hydrobromic Acid (HBr) with Peroxide (H2O2):**

- **Function:** Used in the radical addition of HBr to alkenes to form alkyl bromides. The peroxide (H2O2) is
often used as a radical initiator.
- **Example:** CH2=CH2 + HBr/H2O2 → CH3CH2Br

18. **Bromine (Br2) in CCl4:**

- **Function:** Used in the addition reaction to test the unsaturation of organic compounds.
- **Example:** C2H4 + Br2/CCl4 → C2H4Br2