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Abstract. The Free Radical Chlorination Of 1-Chlorobutane

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Abstract
The free radical chlorination of 1-chlorobutane resulted in a mixture of at least 4 different possible products from the reaction. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry helped in figuring out which of the products are most abundant in the sample product created as well as in discovering the ratio of relative reactivities of the hydrogens. This experiment showed that the ratio of relative reactivities was found to be 1.0 : 3.5 : 6.2 : 2.4, which indicates that the secondary hydrogens are more reactive than the primary hydrogens and that reactivity further increases the further away the hydrogen is from the chlorine on the 1-chlorobutane. The results agree with the conjecture that the primary hydrogens are less reactive than …show more content…

Radicals are further formed in the propagation step, and are combined during the termination step. Since any of the radicals can combine in the termination step, a radical-initiated reaction can produce a mixture of products.3 The purpose of this experiment is to obtain a mixture of isomeric dichlorobutane in order to discover the relative reactivities of 1-chlorobutane through radical initiated chlorination. Instead of heat or light, the initiator used in the experiment is 2,2’-azobis-(2-methylpropionitrile).4 Identification of the products obtained in the experiment was done through the analysis of data from mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and physical properties (e.g. boiling point and molecular weight).
Experimental
In a 25-mL round-bottom flask, 1-chlorobutane (5 mL, 4.32 g, 0.046 mol), sulfuryl chloride (1.6 mL, 2.7 g, 0.02 mol), 2,2’-azobis-(2-methylpropionitrile) (0.03 g), and a boiling chip were added. After a condenser and gas trap were attached to the flask, the mixture was heated to a gentle reflux in a steam bath for 20 min. The flask was then allowed to cool down quickly in an ice bath for a short time before a second portion of the 2,2’-azobis-(2-methylpropionitrile) (0.03 g) was added to the flask. The mixture was refluxed for another 10 min. before the flask was cooled in a beaker of water. The reaction mixture was then poured into a small separatory funnel already filled with water (10 mL),

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