Alkyl halides are organic compounds with a halogen atom attached to a carbon chain. They're named using IUPAC rules, prioritizing the halogen's position. Understanding their structure helps predict properties like bond lengths, dipole moments, and boiling points.

These compounds play a crucial role in organic reactions. They can undergo substitution or elimination, with the halogen acting as a leaving group. Their reactivity is influenced by the carbon-halogen bond's polarity, making them important in various chemical transformations.

Alkyl Halide Nomenclature and Structure

IUPAC nomenclature for alkyl halides

• Identify the longest carbon chain containing the halogen atom (fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo) and use the appropriate prefix for the number of carbons (meth-, eth-, prop-, but-, pent-, hex-, etc.)
• Number the carbon chain starting from the end closest to the halogen substituent to give the lowest possible numbers to the halogen(s)
• Assign priorities to substituents in alphabetical order with halogens taking precedence over alkyl groups
  • Use prefixes (di-, tri-, tetra-, etc.) for multiple identical substituents
• Combine the substituent names, numbers, and halogen name with the main chain name (2-chloro-3-methylbutane)

Structural formulas from IUPAC names

• Identify the main carbon chain based on the prefix and suffix ("pentane" indicates a five-carbon chain)
• Determine the positions and identities of the halogens based on the numbers and halogen names ("2-bromo" indicates a bromine atom on the second carbon)
• Add any additional substituents at their specified positions ("3-methyl" indicates a methyl group on the third carbon)
• Draw the complete structural formula, including all carbon and hydrogen atoms (2-bromo-3-methylpentane)

Properties of halomethanes

• Bond lengths increase with increasing atomic size of the halogen: C-F < C-Cl < C-Br < C-I
• Bond strengths decrease with increasing atomic size of the halogen: C-F > C-Cl > C-Br > C-I due to stronger bonds with smaller, more electronegative halogens
• Dipole moments are determined by the difference in electronegativity between carbon and the halogen: $\mu = Q \times r$
  • Larger difference results in a greater dipole moment: F > Cl > Br > I
• Boiling points increase with increasing molecular mass and intermolecular forces: CH$_3$F < CH$_3$Cl < CH$_3$Br < CH$_3$I
• Solubility in water decreases with increasing size of the halogen
  • Smaller halomethanes (CH$_3$F, CH$_3$Cl) are more soluble due to their ability to form hydrogen bonds
• The polarity of alkyl halides is influenced by the electronegativity difference between carbon and the halogen atom

Reactivity of Alkyl Halides

• Alkyl halides can undergo substitution reactions, where the halogen is replaced by another group
• Elimination reactions can occur, resulting in the formation of alkenes
• The halogen atom in alkyl halides acts as a leaving group in reactions
• Alkyl halides can react with nucleophiles, which are electron-rich species attracted to the electron-deficient carbon
• The carbon-halogen bond is polarized, making the carbon slightly electrophilic