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Halogenoalkanes: Properties and Reactions

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Halogenoalkanes, also known as haloalkanes or alkyl halides, are organic compounds where alkanes have halogen atoms replacing hydrogen. These compounds, with elements like fluorine and chlorine, are crucial in pharmaceuticals and other industries. Understanding their classification, physical properties, and reactivity is key for their synthesis and application, while considering their environmental impact is essential for responsible use.

Introduction to Halogenoalkanes in Organic Chemistry

Halogenoalkanes, commonly known as haloalkanes or alkyl halides, are a group of organic compounds in which one or more hydrogen atoms in an alkane have been replaced by halogen atoms. These halogens are elements from Group 17 of the periodic table, which includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and the less commonly discussed astatine due to its radioactive nature. The simplest halogenoalkanes have the formula CnH2n+1X, where 'X' denotes the halogen atom. These compounds play a pivotal role in various industries, notably in pharmaceuticals, where they are used to enhance the biological activity of drugs. For instance, the incorporation of fluorine into organic molecules can significantly alter their properties, making them more lipophilic or altering their metabolic stability.
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Nomenclature of Halogenoalkanes

The systematic naming of halogenoalkanes adheres to the IUPAC rules of organic nomenclature. Prefixes such as fluoro-, chloro-, bromo-, and iodo- are used to indicate the type of halogen present. The longest continuous carbon chain is identified, and its carbons are numbered to give the substituent halogens the lowest possible locants. For example, a molecule with a chlorine atom on the second carbon of a four-carbon chain is named 2-chlorobutane. When multiple different halogens are attached, they are cited in alphabetical order in the name, and the numbering is chosen to minimize the sum of the locants for all substituents. Di-, tri-, and other such numerical prefixes are used to indicate the number of identical halogen substituents.

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00

General formula of simplest halogenoalkanes

CnH2n+1X, where 'X' represents a halogen atom.

01

Halogens in halogenoalkanes

Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and occasionally astatine.

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Effect of fluorine on organic molecules

Increases lipophilicity and alters metabolic stability.

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