Haloform reaction

Started by dl9006
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dl9006

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Can Haloform reaction(reagents: I2,OH-) occur with methanal?

How about with Acetone?

Or does this reaction exclusively occur with methyl ketones?

thanks!
 
Can Haloform reaction(reagents: I2,OH-) occur with methanal?

How about with Acetone?

Or does this reaction exclusively occur with methyl ketones?

thanks!


I was searching threads about haloform. And so I guess I'll answer here what I've found out.

Haloforms will form with any substance as long as it has a methyl attached to a carbonyl (methyl ketones, or ethanal) or any secondary alcohol that can be oxidized to that because the reagents would do that for you (so secondary alcohols that have a methyl group attached to the carbon that has OH attached to it and ethanol)

So Methanal (formaldehyde) doesn't work because there is no CH3 attached to the carbonyl. Acetone should give you a positive result though.