Question

Rank the following alkyl halides in order of increasing reactivity in an E2 reaction. Be sure to answer all parts.

Answer 1

The alkyl halides should be ranked from least to most reactive for an E2 reaction based on their substitution pattern, with primary being the least reactive and tertiary being the most reactive.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking to rank a set of alkyl halides in order of increasing reactivity for an E2 reaction. In E2 reactions, alkyl halides react to form alkenes. The order of reactivity generally follows the trend: methyl < primary < secondary < tertiary. This is because bulkier alkyl halides are more likely to undergo an E2 reaction due to better stabilization of the transition state and the resulting alkene.

Based on the information provided, the compounds would be ranked as follows:

1. 2-chloro-3-fluoro-4-methylheptane (primary)
2. 2-bromobutane (secondary)
3. 2-methyl-2-propanol (tertiary)