Question

Write the structure of the product formed when chlorobenzene is treated with sodium metal in the presence of dry ether.

Hint:

The Wurtz-Fittig coupling reaction between an aromatic halide and sodium metal in ether leads to the formation of biphenyl.

Answer 1

When chlorobenzene is treated with sodium metal in dry ether, the reaction follows the Wurtz-Fittig coupling mechanism. This leads to the formation of biphenyl (\( \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{-}\text{C}_6\text{H}_5 \)). The reaction is: \[ \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{Cl} + 2\text{Na} \xrightarrow{\text{ether}} \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{-}\text{C}_6\text{H}_5 \] Thus, the product formed is biphenyl with the structure: \[ \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{-}\text{C}_6\text{H}_5 \]