Question

Free radical Brormination is a slower reaction than chlorination but it is a synthetic route often used to make alky bromides. Alkyl fluorides are not made byFree Radical Halongenation. Explain why free radical Fluorinationis not a viable route of synthesis for thesecompounds(show your workto support your claim all math calculationsof the reaction enthalpy). (5pts).

Answer 1

Answer and explanation:

The relative rates of free radical halogenation is in the order of,

F₂ (10⁸) > Cl₂ (1) > Br₂ (10⁻¹¹) > I₂ (10⁻²²)

The above order also show a decreasing reactivity from left to right

Hence, reaction of fluorine with alkanes is highly reactive and it is too difficult to control.

The reaction with Cl₂ is moderately fast, while with Br₂ is slow and with I₂ is too slow reaches to equilibrium.

Hence in general we don't prefer radical fluorination of alkanes.