HALOHYDRIN FORMATION REACTION Meaning and
Definition
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The term "halohydrin formation reaction" refers to a chemical reaction that involves the transformation of an alkene into a halohydrin. A halohydrin is an organic compound that contains both a halogen atom (such as chlorine or bromine) and a hydroxyl group (-OH) bonded to the same carbon atom. This reaction typically occurs in the presence of a halogenating agent, which is a compound that is capable of introducing a halogen atom into a molecule.
In the halohydrin formation reaction, the alkene acts as the starting material, whereas the halogenating agent provides the halogen atom. The reaction proceeds in a step-wise manner, with the halogen initially adding to one carbon of the alkene, resulting in the formation of a cyclic halonium ion intermediate. The cyclic halonium ion then undergoes nucleophilic attack by a water molecule (or an alcohol), leading to the substitution of the halogen with a hydroxyl group. This substitution results in the formation of the halohydrin product.
Halohydrin formation reactions have broad applications in organic chemistry and are commonly used to synthesize various halohydrin compounds. These compounds often serve as important intermediates for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other organic molecules. The halohydrin formation reaction is often catalyzed by Lewis acids, which enhance the rate of the reaction by facilitating the formation of the cyclic halonium intermediate.
