Sciencemadness Discussion Board

SN2 with chloroform anion

MKSStal - 19-7-2018 at 11:06

Do you think, that SN2 can be performed using some alkyl halide, chloroform and hydroxide to deprotonate it?
For example to make 1,1,1-trichloropropane from ethyl halide.

clearly_not_atara - 19-7-2018 at 12:01

No.

But see e.g.:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004040390...

[Edited on 19-7-2018 by clearly_not_atara]

MKSStal - 19-7-2018 at 12:18

Why is it so? Due to chloroform anion decomposition to dichlorocarbene, and further hydrolysis?
In this publication in second case (R2 = Me), product suggests that unsaturated ester has reacted with dichlorocarbene.

clearly_not_atara - 19-7-2018 at 12:52

Not only that, but if you're using an alkyl halide as the electrophile, the whole reaction is competing with dehydrohalogenation. There are a couple of cases where trichloromethyl is added to aldehydes or Michael acceptors, but not to halides.