CHAPTER 4 ALCOHOLS AND ALKYL HALIDES ur first three chapters established some fundamental principles concerning the structure of organic molecules. In this chapter we begin our discussion of organic chemical reactions by directing attention to alcohols and alkyl halides. These two rank among the most useful classes of organic compounds because they often serve as starting materials for the preparation of numerous other families Two reactions that lead to alkyl halides will be described in this chapter. Both illus- trate functional group transformations. In the first, the hydroxyl group of an alcohol is replaced by halogen on treatment with a hydrogen halide R-OH+ H-X →>R一X+H-OH Alcohol In the second, reaction with chlorine or bromine causes one of the hydrogen substituents of an alkane to be replaced by haloge R一H X? Alkane Halogen Alkyl halide Hydrogen halide Both reactions are classified as substitutions, a term that describes the relationship between reactants and products--one functional group replaces another. In this chapter we go beyond the relationship of reactants and products and consider the mechanism of each reaction. A mechanism attempts to show how starting materials are converted into products during a chemical reaction While developing these themes of reaction and mechanism, we will also use hols and alkyl halides as vehicles to extend the principles of IUPAC nomenclature, 126 Back Forward Main Menu Study Guide ToC Student OLC MHHE WebsiteCHAPTER 4 ALCOHOLS AND ALKYL HALIDES Our first three chapters established some fundamental principles concerning the structure of organic molecules. In this chapter we begin our discussion of organic chemical reactions by directing attention to alcohols and alkyl halides. These two rank among the most useful classes of organic compounds because they often serve as starting materials for the preparation of numerous other families. Two reactions that lead to alkyl halides will be described in this chapter. Both illus￾trate functional group transformations. In the first, the hydroxyl group of an alcohol is replaced by halogen on treatment with a hydrogen halide. In the second, reaction with chlorine or bromine causes one of the hydrogen substituents of an alkane to be replaced by halogen. Both reactions are classified as substitutions, a term that describes the relationship between reactants and products—one functional group replaces another. In this chapter we go beyond the relationship of reactants and products and consider the mechanism of each reaction. A mechanism attempts to show how starting materials are converted into products during a chemical reaction. While developing these themes of reaction and mechanism, we will also use alco￾hols and alkyl halides as vehicles to extend the principles of IUPAC nomenclature, con￾R±H Alkane X2 Halogen R±X Alkyl halide H±X Hydrogen halide R±OH Alcohol H±X Hydrogen halide R±X Alkyl halide H±OH Water 126 Back Forward Main Menu TOC Study Guide TOC Student OLC MHHE Website