Summary of Preparations
Alkyl Halides
Alkyl halides undergo many reactions in which a nucleophile displaces the halogen atom bonded to the central carbon of the molecule. The displaced halogen atom becomes a halide ion.
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Some typical nucleophiles are the hydroxy group (−OH), the alkoxy group (RO−), and the cyanide ion (−C
N). Reaction of these nucleophiles with an alkyl halide (R—X) gives the following reactions and products:
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The halogen ion that is displaced from the carbon atom is called the leaving group, and the overall reaction is called a nucleophilic substitution reaction.
