During the Wurtz reaction of ethyl chloride, besides the expected dimer (butane), ethane and ethene — Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question
Question
During the Wurtz reaction of ethyl chloride, besides the expected dimer (butane), ethane and ethene are also formed as minor products. What mechanism explains this?
Answer: A
💡 Solution & Explanation
Ethyl free radicals can undergo disproportionation, where one radical abstracts a hydrogen from another, yielding one alkane (ethane) and one alkene (ethene).
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