Halohydrin

1.0Introduction

Halohydrins are organic compounds in which a halogen atom (X) and a hydroxyl group (OH) are bonded to adjacent carbon atoms (i.e., on neighbouring carbon atoms in the molecule). These compounds are saturated (i.e., they contain only single bonds between carbon atoms).

Not all compounds with both a halogen and hydroxyl group on adjacent carbons are considered halohydrins. For example, 2-bromophenol is not a halohydrin because its hydroxyl and halogen groups are attached to an aromatic ring, not a saturated carbon chain.

Depending on the halogen involved, halohydrins are classified as:

• Fluorohydrins (contain fluorine)
• Chlorohydrins (contain chlorine)
• Bromohydrins (contain bromine)
• Iodohydrins (contain iodine)

2.0Synthesis of Halohydrins

1. From Alkenes (Halohydrin Formation Reaction):

Halohydrins can be synthesized by reacting alkenes with a halogen (X₂) in the presence of water (H₂O).

Reaction Conditions:

• Solvents like DMSO, THF, or NBS (N-bromosuccinimide) facilitate the reaction.
• The halogen adds across the double bond, and water provides the OH group.

Mechanism:

• Bromonium Ion Forms (Bromine Attacks!):
• • The alkene has extra electrons in its "pi bond" (π bond) – think of them as eager to react.
  • These electrons attack the bromine molecule.
  • This forms a temporary, special three-membered ring called a bromonium ion. It's like the bromine bridges across the two carbons that used to have the double bond, and it has a positive charge.
• Water Attacks (Ring Opens!):
• • Now, water steps in. Water has "lone pairs" of electrons, making it a "nucleophile" (something that likes positive charges).
  • The water molecule attacks one of the carbons in that three-membered bromonium ion ring.
  • This attack forces the ring to open up, and the water molecule forms a new bond with that carbon. This attack happens from the opposite side of where the bromine is attached (this is important for the shape).
• Lose a Proton (Get the Final Product!):
• • After water attacks, the oxygen from the water molecule briefly carries a positive charge (it's an "oxonium ion").
  • Another water molecule (or something similar in the solution) quickly grabs a hydrogen atom (proton) from this positively charged oxygen.
  • This leaves you with the neutral halohydrin molecule – your final product.

Why Does Water Attack? (Regioselectivity)

Water doesn't just attack any carbon in the bromonium ion; it's very picky! It prefers to attack the "more substituted" carbon (the carbon with more other carbon atoms attached to it). Why?

• Partial Positive Charge: The more substituted carbon in the bromonium ion actually carries a slightly stronger positive charge (it has more "carbocation character"). Water, being attracted to positive charges, is drawn to the stronger one.
• Easier Opening: The bond between the bromine and this more substituted carbon in the temporary ring is actually a bit stretched or weaker. This makes it easier for water to "pop" open the ring by attacking that particular carbon.

2. From Epoxides:

Halohydrins can also be synthesized by the nucleophilic ring-opening of epoxides using:

• Hydrohalic acids like HCl, HBr, or HI
• Metal halides such as NaCl, KBr, or KI

Reaction:

The halide ion attacks the less substituted carbon of the epoxide ring, resulting in formation of a halohydrin.

3. From 2-Halo Acids:

Another method is to reduce 2-halo acids using lithium aluminium hydride (LiAlH₄).

Preparation of 2-halo acids:

• Hell–Volhard–Zelinsky reaction (for halogenation of carboxylic acids)
• Halogenation of propionyl halide followed by hydrolysis
• Diazotisation of α-amino acids to obtain 2-halopropionic acids

3.0Regioselectivity in Halohydrin Formation

• The reaction of an alkene with X₂/H₂O is regioselective.
• Follows Markovnikov’s Rule.
• Addition is anti (the halogen and hydroxyl group add on opposite sides of the double bond).

Conversion of Halohydrins to Epoxides

Halohydrins can be converted to epoxides by treatment with a strong base (e.g., NaOH).

Mechanism:

• The OH group is deprotonated to form an alkoxide ion.
• The alkoxide ion attacks the adjacent carbon bearing the halogen via an intramolecular SN2 reaction.
• The halide leaves, and a three-membered epoxide ring is formed.

This is essentially the reverse of the epoxide ring-opening reaction.

4.0Applications of Halohydrins

• Environmental Cleanup: Certain halohydrins facilitate the breakdown of halogenated environmental pollutants.
• Epoxide Resolution: Used in kinetic resolution of racemic epoxides in biocatalysis.
• Synthesis of Alcohols: Serve as intermediates in the synthesis of substituted alcohols.
• Nucleophilic Substitution: React with nucleophiles like CN⁻, N₃⁻, NO₂⁻ to create diverse functionalized organic compounds.