How are alkyl halides reduced?

1 Answer
Jun 6, 2018

Dehydrohalogenation, followed by hydrogenation is the standard means...

Explanation:

So we got an alkyl halide...#RCH_2CH_2X#..and this is treated with strong base..

#Rstackrel(-II)CH_2stackrel(-I)CH_2X +K^+""^(-)OBu^t rarr Rstackrel(-I)CH=stackrel(-II)CH_2 + KXdarr#

And the terminal olefin can be further REDUCED with dihydrogen...

#Rstackrel(-I)CH=stackrel(-II)CH_2+stackrel(0)H_2 rarrRstackrel(-II)CH_2-stackrel(-III)CH_3#