Haloalkanes

• What is a haloalkane?

  Homologous series of organic compounds that contain a halogen
• How to classify a haloalkane as primary, secondary etc...

  By the number of alkyl groups bonded directly to the halogen-bearing carbon.
• Definition of hydrolysis

  Splitting of molecules using water
• How does hydrolysis occur in haloalkanes?

  It occurs by nucleophilic substitution
• SN1 mechanism for hydrolysis of haloalkanes

  Secondary or tertiary haloalkanes

  Happens in two stages

  Sn1 prefers tertiary as they are more stable than secondary
• SN2 mechanism for hydrolysis of haloalkanes

  Initial stage of reaction involves two species

  Primary and secondary haloalkanes

  SN2 prefers primary as the nucleophile can easily attach to the carbon atom whereas in 2 and 3 they have less space around the carbon atom
• What happens to rate going down the halogens and why

  It increases as the bond enthalpy decreases