MHT CET202618 April 2026Evening ShiftChemistryHaloalkanes and HaloarenesActual
Identify substrate 'S' in the following reaction. S Na / dry ether 3, 4 - diethyl - 3, 4 - dimethyl hexane
Options
- A3 - chloro - 2 - methylpentane
- B2 - chloro - 3 - methylpentane
- C3 - chloro - 3 - methylpentane
- D2 - chloro - 2 - methylpentane
Correct answer
C. 3 - chloro - 3 - methylpentane
Step-by-step solution
The given reaction is a Wurtz reaction, which involves the coupling of two alkyl halide molecules in the presence of sodium and dry ether to form a symmetrical alkane. The structure of the product, 3,4-diethyl-3,4-dimethylhexane, is: CH ₃ -CH ₂ -C(CH ₃ )(CH ₂ CH ₃ )-C(CH ₃ )(CH ₂ CH ₃ )-CH ₂ -CH ₃ Since the Wurtz reaction produces a symmetrical alkane by the dimerization of alkyl radicals, we can determine the structure of the reactant by cleaving the central carbon-carbon bond of the product. Cleaving the bond bet