Question

How would you obtain bromoethane from silver propanoate?

Answer 1

Bromoethane is prepared from silver propanoate by the Hunsdiecker reaction. When silver propanoate reacts with bromine (Br₂) in CCl₄ and is heated, it gives bromoethane, carbon dioxide, and silver bromide.

\[\ce{\underset{Silver propanoate}{AgCH_2CH_2COO}} + \mathrm{Br_2} \rightarrow \ce{\underset{Bromoethane}{{CH_3CH_2Br}}} + \mathrm{AgBr} + \mathrm{CO_2}\]