Three questions.... two organic, the other...

[biocmp]

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Number one

When ethers react with a strong alkyl acid (HBr) you get an alcohol and an alkyl halide. Would this be due to SN2? Also, what if the ketone is unequally yolked? Will the most substituted side produce the alcohol, and the least the alkyl halide.


And finally, does anyone else feel their brain firing relies more on brownian motion than well coordinated synaptic firing? 🙂

 

[Jaylee777]

yes it forms via an SN2 reaction after the ether is protonated. The halide ion attacks the least substituted side because SN2 favors 1>2>3 and less steric hinderance so the more sub becomes the alcohol. If there is excess acid, it is repeated with the alcohol and then both sides of the ether end up cleaved and become alkyl halides. hope that helps