Explain Wurtz – Fittig’s reaction with an example

Wurtz-Fittig Reaction is a type of organic reaction used to couple two different alkyl halides or aryl halides with sodium metal in the presence of dry ether to form a higher alkane or alkene. This reaction is named after Charles Adolphe Wurtz and Wilhelm Rudolph Fittig who discovered it.

Here's a step-by-step explanation of the Wurtz-Fittig Reaction:

1. The reaction begins with the sodium metal reacting with the alkyl or aryl halide. This reaction produces an alkyl or aryl sodium compound and releases a halogen atom.

2. The alkyl or aryl sodium compound then reacts with a different alkyl or aryl halide. This reaction forms a new carbon-carbon bond and releases a sodium halide.

3. The final product is a higher alkane or alkene, depending on the starting materials.

For example, if we take bromobenzene and ethyl bromide as the starting materials, the Wurtz-Fittig Reaction would proceed as follows:

Step 1: 2Na + BrC6H5 → NaBr + C6H5Na Step 2: C6H5Na + BrCH2CH3 → NaBr + C6H5CH2CH3

The final product is phenylethane (ethylbenzene), which is a higher alkane.