A PRESENTATION ON

FORMATION OF ALKANES
SUBMITTED BY:- ARNAB PAUL (15)

DEPT:- CHEMISTRY

YEAR:- 1st

SEM:- 2nd
-:TOPICS WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PRESENTATION:-

• INTRODUCTION TO ALKANE
• METHODS OF PREPARATION
1. HYDROGENETION OF ALKENES
2. REDUCTION OF ALKYL HALIDE
3. DECARBOXYLATION
4. WURTZ REACTION
5. KOLBEY’S ELECTROLYSIS METHOD
• CONCLUSION
 INTRODUCTION TO ALKANE
In organic chemistry, an alkane, or paraffin (a historical name that
also has other meanings), is an acyclic saturated hydrocarbon. In
other words, an alkane consists of hydrogen and carbon atoms
arranged in a tree structure in which all the carbon–carbon
bonds are single. Alkanes have the general chemical formula CnH2n+2.
There are many methods to prepare alkane.

Chemical structure of methane , the

simplest alkane
1.HYDROGENETION OF ALKENES

Alkanes can be prepared by the catalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated

hydrocarbons in the presence of catalyst ‘Ni’ or ‘pt’ at 200⁰C to 300⁰C.
• REACTION MECHANISM
2. REDUCTION OF ALKYL HALIDE

Alkyl halides on reduction with nascent hydrogen form

alkanes. R-X + 2[H]→R-H + HX. The nascent hydrogen may
be obtained by any one of the following
1.Zn + HCI
2.Zn + CH3COOH
3.Zn-Cu couple in ethanol
4.Red P + HI
5.Al-Hg + ethanol
Alkyl halides can also be reduced catalytically to alkane by
H2/Pd or LiAIH4 or by H2/Ni. The yields are generally high and
the hydrocarbons formed are pure.
3. DECARBOXYLATION

Alkanes can be prepared from carboxylic acid via the

removal of carbon dioxide. This process is known as
decarboxylation. It produces alkane with a carbon atom
lesser than that present in the carboxylic acid.
4. WURTZ REACTION
2 R–X + 2 Na → R–R + 2 Na+X−
e.g. C2H5X + 2Na + C2H5X → C2H5C2H5 + 2NaX
The Wurtz reaction, named after Charles Adolphe Wurtz,
is a coupling reaction in which to obtain a higher order
alkane we react two alkyl halides with sodium in a solution
of dry ether.
The reaction involving aryl halides is termed as the wurtz
fittig reaction.
Sodium metal works as a reducing agent and dry ether
solution works as a solvent in the reaction.
REACTION MECHANISM
The proposed mechanizm of Wurtz reaction
involved formation of Intermediate free radicals:
RX + Na → R. + Nax
Free radicals

R. + R. → R-R
LIMITATIONS
• The wurtz reaction is limited to the synthesis of symmetric alkanes.
•This reaction cannot be used to make Methane.
•This method fails in case of tertiary halides.
5. KOLBEY’S ELECTROLYSIS METHOD

Kolbe’s electrolysis is basically an organic reaction which

is also known as decarboxylative dimerisation since this reaction
proceeds with radical reaction mechanism and concludes with the
evolution of CO2. As the name suggests it’s an electrolysis,so its
quite natural to expect reaction occurring at anodic and cathodic
compartment.
 CONCLUSION

• USES OF ALKANES
1. It is used as a fuel for homes, ovens, water heaters, kilns
and automobiles as it combust with oxygen to produce heat.
2. Ethane can be used as a refrigerant in cryogenic
refrigeration systems
3. Butane is a key ingredient of synthetic rubber.
AND THAT’S IT

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