Free Radical Bromination of Alkanes
Description: When treated with bromine (Br2) and light (hν) alkanes are converted into alkyl bromides. In the absence of any double bonds, with Br2 this is selective for tertiary carbons.
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Dear Sir,
I see that exciting topic. But you give me some example for “heat may also suffice”. What difference hv and heat are inside this reaction ?
“Notes: Although light (hν) is commonly employed as the initiator, heat may also suffice.”
thanks
Thanks for asking for clarification – what I should have said is that one can also use heat and peroxides. A common example of a peroxide for these types of reactions is tert-butyl peroxide, (CH3)3C–O–O–C(CH3)3 . When this is heated, it fragments to give the free radical (CH3)3CO• , which can fragment Br–Br homolytically to give Br• and start the chain reaction.