Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry
Hunsdiecker reaction:
A
name reaction
in which a Ag
+
carboxylate
salt
is reacted with Br
2
in
CCl
4
, resulting in
substitution
of the
carboxyl group
with a bromine atom. The
reaction mechanism
involves
decarboxylation
to a carbon
radical
, which then
abstracts
a bromine atom from Br
2
.
Silver octanoate
1-Bromo
heptane
In a typical Hunsdiecker reaction, silver octanoate is reacted with Br
2
in
CCl
4
to form 1-bromo
heptane
. The extra carbon atom is lost as a
molecule
of
carbon dioxide
.
Related terms:
Oxidation
,
radical halogenation
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