What are the uses of halogenoalkanes as synthetic intermediates in chemistry?
Igloo writes … Since halogenoalkanes undergo such a wide variety of reactions, they are frequently encountered as intermediates in organic reactions, and in most cases this is because the carbon-halogen bond(s) they contain enable them to undergo nucleophilic substitution and base-elimination reactions so readily. Consequently they can be directly converted to alcohols, amines, alkenes and nitriles, for example, and in the latter case this process is an important means of introducing extra carbon atoms into an organic chain. From an industrial point of view halogenoalkanes are involved in the production of an extremely wide range of products including insecticides, polymers, pharmaceutical products, anaesthetics, fire retardants, and dry cleaning solvents. Risk assessment Before attempting any practical work based on the advice and suggestions on this website, you must do the following. Identify any hazards, assess the risks from these hazards, and then decide appropriate control mea