Wurtz Reaction

Wurtz reaction

[′wərts rē‚ak·shən]

(organic chemistry)

Synthesis of hydrocarbons by treating alkyl iodides in ethereal solution with sodium according to the reaction 2CH₃I + 2Na → CH₃CH₃+ 2NaI.

Wurtz Reaction

 

a method of synthesizing saturated hydrocarbons by the action of metallic sodium on alkyl halides (usually bromides or iodides):

2RBr - 2 Na → R—R + 2NaBr

The Wurtz reaction was discovered by C. A. Wurtz in 1855. R. Fittig extended the Wurtz reaction to alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons (the Wurtz-Fittig reaction):

C₆H₅Br + 2Na + BrC₄H₉

→ C₆H₅—C₄H₉ + 2NaBr