In: Chemistry
1. Which of the following alkyl halides would not be suitable to make a Wittig reagent
1-bromo-2-methylpropane
2-bromobutane
2-bromo-2-methylpropane
(Bromomethyl)cyclopentane
Witting Reaction-
Witting reaction is a mechanism for conversion of an aldehyde or ketone into an alkene using wittng reagent.
Now witting regent is an organophosphorous complex which can be prepared from the reaction of an Alkyl halide and trialkyl phosphine.
The mechanism of formation of witting reagent is SN2. So the best alkyl halides for this are Methyl and Primary alkyl halides. As we know SN2 mechanism is very fast for methyla and Primary alkyl halides, where as completely absent for tertiary alkyl halides.
So from the given options, 2-bromo-2-methylpropane is a tertiary alkyl halide. So it is not suitable to make a Wittig reagent