• NEET
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
    • JEE
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
    • Class 6-10
      • Class 6th
      • Class 7th
      • Class 8th
      • Class 9th
      • Class 10th
    • View All Options
      • Online Courses
      • Offline Courses
      • Distance Learning
      • Hindi Medium Courses
      • International Olympiad
    • NEET
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
    • JEE (Main+Advanced)
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
    • JEE Main
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
  • NEW
    • JEE MAIN 2025
    • NEET
      • 2024
      • 2023
      • 2022
    • Class 6-10
    • JEE Main
      • Previous Year Papers
      • Sample Papers
      • Result
      • Analysis
      • Syllabus
      • Exam Date
    • JEE Advanced
      • Previous Year Papers
      • Sample Papers
      • Mock Test
      • Result
      • Analysis
      • Syllabus
      • Exam Date
    • NEET
      • Previous Year Papers
      • Sample Papers
      • Mock Test
      • Result
      • Analysis
      • Syllabus
      • Exam Date
    • NCERT Solutions
      • Class 6
      • Class 7
      • Class 8
      • Class 9
      • Class 10
      • Class 11
      • Class 12
    • CBSE
      • Notes
      • Sample Papers
      • Question Papers
    • Olympiad
      • NSO
      • IMO
      • NMTC
    • TALLENTEX
    • AOSAT
    • ALLEN e-Store
    • ALLEN for Schools
    • About ALLEN
    • Blogs
    • News
    • Careers
    • Request a call back
    • Book home demo
JEE MathsJEE Physics
Home
JEE Chemistry
Organic Compounds Containing Halogens

Organic Compounds Containing Halogens

Halogen-containing organic compounds are categorized into two main groups:

  • Alkyl Halides: These are aliphatic carbon chains where one or more hydrogen atoms are substituted by halogen atoms.
    Example: Chlorobutane.
  • Aryl Halides: These are aromatic rings with halogen atom(s) directly attached to the ring.
    Example: Chlorobenzene.

Methods of Preparation of Alkyl Halides

1. Grove’s Process

  • Involves replacing the -OH group in primary and secondary alcohols with a halogen (X) using zinc chloride (ZnCl₂).

R−OH + HX → ZnCl2R−X + H2O

Where:

  • R-OH = Alcohol (Primary or Secondary)
  • HX = Hydrogen halide (HCl, HBr, HI)
  • ZnCl₂ = Catalyst
  • R-X = Alkyl halide

The reaction follows the Sₙ2 mechanism when ZnCl₂ concentration is low.

2. Darzens Process

  • Involves the reaction of thionyl chloride (SOCl₂) with primary alcohols.
  • Can proceed with or without pyridine.

Reaction Steps:

With pyridine:

ROH + SOCl₂ → HCl + ROSOCl

HCl + C₅H₅N → C₅H₅NH⁺Cl⁻

  • ROSOCl + Cl⁻ → RCl + SO₂ (Sₙ2 mechanism)

Other Methods for Preparing Alkyl Halides

These reactions are fundamental in organic chemistry and widely applied in synthesis and industrial processes.

  • Using Phosphorus Halides:
    ROH + PCl₅ → RCl + HCl + POCl₃
  • Halogen Addition to Alkenes:
    R-CH=CH₂ + Br₂/CCl₄ → R-CH(Br)-CH₂Br
  • Photohalogenation:
    CH₄ + Cl₂ + hv → CH₃Cl + HCl
  • Halogen Exchange (Finkelstein Reaction):
    RCl + NaI → RI + NaCl
  • Borodine-Hunsdiecker Reaction:
    RCOOAg + Br₂ → RBr + CO₂ + AgBr
  • Hydrohalogenation of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons:
    Without peroxide:
    RCH=CH₂ + HBr → RCH(Br)CH₃
  • With peroxide (Anti-Markovnikov’s Rule):
    RCH=CH₂ + HBr + Peroxide → RCH₂CH₂Br

Methods of Preparing Aryl Halides

1. Halogenation

  • Reaction:
    Ar-H+X2+Lewis Base→Ar-X+HX
  • In this process, an aromatic hydrocarbon (Ar-H) reacts with a halogen (X₂) in the presence of a Lewis acid to form an aryl halide (Ar-X).

2. From Diazonium Salts

Aryl halides can also be synthesized from diazonium salts using the following reactions:

  • Schiemann Reaction:
    C6H5N2Cl+HBF4→C6H5F
  • Sandmeyer Reaction:
    C6H5N2Cl + CuCl→C6H5Cl
  • Gattermann Reaction:
    C6H5N2Cl + Cu powder→C6H5Cl

Sₙ1 and Sₙ2 Mechanism Comparison

Feature

Sₙ1 (Unimolecular Nucleophilic Substitution)

Sₙ2 (Bimolecular Nucleophilic Substitution)

Steps

Two steps:

(1) R-X → R⁺ + X⁻

(2) R⁺ + Nu⁻ → R-Nu

One-step:

R-X + Nu⁻ → R-Nu + X⁻

Rate Equation

Rate = k [RX] (First-order reaction)

Rate = k [RX] [Nu⁻] (Second-order reaction)

Transition State (TS) of Slow Step

Formation of carbocation (R⁺) in the rate-determining step

Single-step reaction with a transition state involving both R-X and Nu⁻ (backside attack)

Stereochemistry

Leads to inversion and racemization

Results in inversion (backside attack)

Molecularity

Unimolecular (depends only on RX)

Bimolecular (depends on both RX and Nu⁻

Reactivity of Alkyl Halide (R-X)

3° > 2° > 1° > CH₃ (favored due to carbocation stability)

CH₃ > 1° > 2° > 3° (hindered by steric effects)

Determining Factor

Stability of carbocation (R⁺)

Steric hindrance in R group

Reactivity of Halide (X)

RI > RBr > RCl > RF

RI > RBr > RCl > RF

Effect of Solvent

Rate increases in polar protic solvents

Rate increases in polar aprotic solvents

Effect of Nucleophile

No effect on rate (nucleophile attacks in second step)

Stronger nucleophile increases the reaction rate (I⁻ > Br⁻ > Cl⁻ > RS⁻ > RO⁻)

Catalysis

Lewis acids (e.g., Ag⁺, AlCl₃, ZnCl₂) may promote ionization

None required

Competing Reactions

Elimination, rearrangement

Elimination

Reactions of Alkyl Halides

  • Hydrolysis:
    RX + OH⁻ → ROH + X⁻
  • Williamson Synthesis:
    R-ONa + R'X → R-O-R' + NaX
  • Reaction with Dry Silver Oxide:
    2R-X + Ag₂O → R-O-R
  • Reaction with Sodio-Alkynides:
    R-C≡C-Na + X-R → R-C≡C-R + NaX
  • Reaction with Potassium Cyanide:
    KCN + R-X → RCN + KX
  • Reaction with Silver Cyanide:
    AgCN + R-X → RNC + AgX
  • Reaction with Silver Nitrite:
    AgNO₂ + R-X → RNO₂ + AgX
  • Reaction with Potassium Nitrite:
    KNO₂ + R-X → R-O-N=O + KX
  • Friedel-Crafts Reaction:
    R-X + C₆H₆ + AlCl₃ → C₆H₅-R
  • Malonic Ester Synthesis:
    R-X + CH(CO₂C₂H₅)₂ → R-CH(CO₂C₂H₅)₂ + HX
  • Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis:
    R-X + CH(CO₂C₂H₅)₂ → R-CH(CO₂C₂H₅)₂ + HX
  • Reaction with Ammonia:
    R-X + NH₃ → R-NH₂ + HX
  • Wurtz Reaction:
    2R-I + 2Na → R-R + 2NaI
  • Dehydrohalogenation:
    CH₃CH₂CH₂Br + alco.KOH → CH₃-CH=CH₂ + KBr + H₂O
  • Reaction with Alcoholic AgNO₃:
    R-X + AgNO₃ → R⁺ + AgX↓ + HNO₃

Haloform Reaction (Trihalide Reaction)

Preparation

  • Chloroform (CHCl₃) can be prepared from alcohols containing the –CH(OH)CH₃ group or from aldehydes and ketones with three α-hydrogen atoms, using halogen (X₂) and an alkali or Na₂CO₃.

Substitution / Elimination

CH₃X

RCH₂X (1°)

R₂CHX (2°)

R₃CX (3°)

Methyl

1°

2°

3°

Reaction Type

Bimolecular reactions only

Bimolecular and unimolecular

Sₙ1/E1 or E2

Reactivity

Gives Sₙ2 reactions

Mainly Sₙ2, but with hindered strong bases (e.g., (CH₃)₃CO⁻), E2 dominates.

Mainly Sₙ2 with weak bases (I⁻, CN⁻, RCO₂⁻), and E2 with strong bases (RO⁻).

Table of Contents


  • 0.1Methods of Preparation of Alkyl Halides
  • 0.1.11. Grove’s Process
  • 0.1.22. Darzens Process
  • 0.2Other Methods for Preparing Alkyl Halides
  • 0.3Methods of Preparing Aryl Halides
  • 0.3.11. Halogenation
  • 0.3.22. From Diazonium Salts
  • 0.4Reactions of Alkyl Halides
  • 0.5Haloform Reaction (Trihalide Reaction)
  • 0.5.1Preparation

Frequently Asked Questions

Organic halogen compounds are organic molecules that contain one or more halogen atoms (F, Cl, Br, I) attached to a carbon atom. They can be classified into alkyl halides, aryl halides, and acyl halides.

Aryl halides are organic compounds where a halogen is directly bonded to an aromatic ring (e.g., chlorobenzene). They are less reactive due to: Partial double bond character (resonance effect). Sp² hybridization of carbon, making bond cleavage difficult. Lack of carbocation stabilization in the SN1 mechanism.

Join ALLEN!

(Session 2025 - 26)


Choose class
Choose your goal
Preferred Mode
Choose State
  • About
    • About us
    • Blog
    • News
    • MyExam EduBlogs
    • Privacy policy
    • Public notice
    • Careers
    • Dhoni Inspires NEET Aspirants
    • Dhoni Inspires JEE Aspirants
  • Help & Support
    • Refund policy
    • Transfer policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Contact us
  • Popular goals
    • NEET Coaching
    • JEE Coaching
    • 6th to 10th
  • Courses
    • Online Courses
    • Distance Learning
    • Online Test Series
    • NEET Test Series
    • JEE Test Series
    • JEE Main Test Series
    • CUET Test Series
  • Centers
    • Kota
    • Bangalore
    • Indore
    • Delhi
    • More centres
  • Exam information
    • JEE Main
    • JEE Advanced
    • NEET UG
    • CBSE
    • NCERT Solutions
    • NEET Mock Test
    • CUET
    • Olympiad
    • JEE Main 2 Solved Papers

ALLEN Career Institute Pvt. Ltd. © All Rights Reserved.

ISO