Alkyl Halides and Aryl Halides
4.0 Isomerism
4.0 Isomerism
Isomerism is observed in higher member of haloalkanes. It can be of three types:
- Chain Isomerism: The structures of alkyl halides with four or more carbon atoms can be written in two or more ways (due to the different arrangement of carbon atoms in the compound). Thus, they exhibit chain isomerism.
Example: $CH_3-CH_2-CH_2-CH_2-Cl$ and $(CH_3)_2-CH-CH_2Cl$
- Position Isomerism: Alkyl halides with three or more carbons exhibit positional isomerism, meaning that the halogen can be attached to two or more carbon atoms.
Example: $CH_3-CH_2-CH_2-CH_2-Cl$ and $CH_3-CH(Cl)-CH_2-CH_3$
- Optical Isomerism: Alkyl halides with four or more carbon atoms with a chiral carbon atom show optical isomerism.
Example: $2$-Chlorobutane.
