Answer to Question #182835 in Organic Chemistry for Ekpe Egwu

Question

Give reasons why the compound 3-bromo-3-ethyl heptane gives no reaction with potassium hydroxide but bromo-propane does.

Answer 1

When ethyl bromide reacts with aqueous KOH, it undergoes hydrolysis.The lone pair on O in OH attracts the hydrogen on the beta carbon( the carbon next to the carbon which has the bromide group) and the potasssium cation attracts the bromide group. The product is ethene and the by products are water and KBr.