I am trying to synthesize CH3CH2CH2CH2CL from only 2HC=CH2, and am unsure about which mechanism to use, any ideas?
To synthesize CH3CH2CH2CH2Cl from 2HC=CH2 (also known as ethene or ethylene), one possible mechanism you can use is the addition reaction with hydrogen chloride (HCl). Here's the step-by-step explanation:
1. First, you need to convert the ethene molecule (2HC=CH2) into a reactive species that can undergo an addition reaction with HCl. This can be achieved by breaking the double bond in ethene using a catalyst such as sulfuric acid (H2SO4). This process is called hydration, and it results in the formation of ethanol (CH3CH2OH).
2. Now that you have ethanol, the next step is to react it with hydrogen chloride (HCl). The addition of HCl to ethanol takes place through a nucleophilic substitution reaction, where the hydroxyl group (-OH) of ethanol is replaced by the chloride ion (Cl-). In this process, ethanol is protonated by HCl to form an oxonium ion intermediate.
3. After the formation of the oxonium ion, a nucleophilic attack by the chloride ion occurs on the carbon bearing the positive charge, resulting in the formation of the final product, CH3CH2CH2CH2Cl (1-chlorobutane).
It's worth mentioning that the reaction conditions and appropriate solvents should be considered for each step. You could use a reflux setup for the reaction between ethene and sulfuric acid, and for the reaction between ethanol and HCl, a polar solvent like acetone or dichloromethane may be used to facilitate the reaction.
Always be cautious when handling and working with chemicals, and make sure to refer to reliable sources and follow proper safety protocols.