Thursday, October 26, 2017

organic chemistry - Why is thionyl chloride preferred for preparing alkyl chlorides from alcohols?



Why is thionyl chloride (SOClX2) preferred for preparing alkyl chlorides from alcohols, as opposed to say PClX5 or PClX3 ?



Answer



Thionyl chloride is preferred for preparing alkyl chlorides from alcohols because the by-products formed in the reaction are SOX2 and HCl which are in gaseous form and escape into the atmosphere leaving behind pure alkyl chlorides.


CHX3CHX2OH+SOClX2CHX3CHX2Cl+SOX2+HCl


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