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what is wurtz reaction?

The Wurtz reaction, named after Charles-Adolphe Wurtz, is a coupling reaction in which two alkyl halides are reacted with sodium to form a new alkane:

    2R–X + 2Na ? R–R + 2NaX

Other metals have also been used to effect the Wurtz coupling, among them silver, zinc, iron, activated copper, indium and a mixture of manganese and copper chloride. The related reaction dealing with aryl halides is called the Wurtz-Fittig reaction.This can be explained by the formation of alkene.


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