Chemistry > Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers > 6.0 Chemical properties of alcohols

  Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
    1.0 Alcohols
    2.0 Classification of alcohols
    3.0 Physical properties of the alcohol
    3.0 Physical properties of the alcohols
    4.0 Preparation of Alcohol
    5.0 Grignard reagent
    6.0 Chemical properties of alcohols
    7.0 Tests for Alchols
    8.0 Ethers
    9.0 Chemical Properties of Ethers
    10.0 Aryl Ethers
    11.0 Epoxides
    12.0 Phenols
    13.0 Preparation of Phenol
    14.0 Physical Properties of Phenol
    15.0 Chemical properties of phenols

6.3 Reaction with phosphorus trihalide or thionyl chloride

Phosphorus is water-soluble and may be removed by washing the alkyl halide with water or dilute aqueous base

Mechanism: The mechanism for the reaction involves attack of an alcohol group on the phosphorus atom displacing a bromide ion and forming protonated alkyl dibromo phosphite.


In a second step a bromide ion acts as a nucleophile to displace HOPBr2 a good leaving group due to the electronegative atoms bonded to the phosphorus.



(i).Since tertiary alcohols are readily converted into tertiary halides phosphorous trihalide and thionyl chloride are mainly used for preparing primary and secondary halide.

(ii).Since carbocations are not formed as intermediates the reactions with both the reagents occur without rearrangement.

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