Wurtz Reaction Example

Some common examples of Wurtz reaction are:

• Production of Ethane from Methyl Bromide
• Production of Butane from Ethyl Bromide

Let’s discuss these examples in detail.

Production of Ethane from Methyl Bromide

We can obtain ethane by reacting methyl bromide with sodium in the presence of anhydrous Ether.

The reaction is:

2CH₃Br + 2Na → C₂H₆ +2NaBr

Here, a large alkane molecule (Ethane) is developed by joining two compounds of alkyl halide (Methyl Bromide) and eradicating the halogen atoms in the form of sodium halide (Sodium Bromide).

Production of Butane from Ethyl Bromide

Ethyl bromide and sodium can react to produce butane when anhydrous ether is present.

CH₃-CH₂-Br + 2Na + Br-CH₂-CH₃ → CH₃-CH₂-CH₂-CH₃ + 2NaBr

Wurtz Reaction is a chemical reaction used to couple two alkyl halides, typically chlorides, bromides, or iodides, in the presence of sodium metal. This reaction leads to the formation of a new carbon-carbon bond, effectively joining two smaller alkane molecules into a larger one. It is named after the French chemist Charles-Adolphe Wurtz, who discovered it in 1855.

This article provides a detailed description of the Wurtz Reaction, including examples and its mechanism.