Question

Write the product for the reaction of iodoethane with sodium nitrite and silver nitrite. explain why two different types of product are formed.

Answer 1

NaNO2 is predominantly ionic and one of the oxygen atoms has a negative charge. Nucleophilic attack through this negatively charged oxygen atom on the iodoethane mainly gives ethyl nitrite. AgNO2 is a covalent compound and both oxygen and nitrogen atoms carry lone pair of electrons. Nitrogen is less electronegative than oxygen so its pair is more easily available for bond formation. As a result, the product is nitroethane.