Answer to Question #249544 in Organic Chemistry for dilpreet

Question

(a) Explain the following: (i) Wurtz reaction, has limited synthetic applications. (ii) Alkanes are relatively unreactive or do not react with most of the reagents. (iii) Physical constants like boiling points, densities, etc. of alkanes generally increase with increase in the number of carbon atoms.(b) Give one example each of the following reactions: (i) Sabatier-Senderens Reaction (ii) Decarboxlylation of the carboxylic acid

Answer 1

The Wurtz reaction is seldom used because of side reactions. It has limited use to the synthesis of symmetric alkanes.

Alkanes are generally unreactive. Alkanes contain only C–H and C–C bonds, which are relatively strong and difficult to break. The similar electronegativities of carbon and hydrogen give molecules which are non-polar.