Final answer:
An alkyl halide reacts with NaOCOCH₃ in an SN2 reaction to form an ester, where the acetate group replaces the halide. The specific product depends on the structure of the starting alkyl halide.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alkyl Halide Reaction with NaOCOCH₃
When an alkyl halide is treated with sodium acetate (NaOCOCH₃), a nucleophilic substitution reaction occurs. This reaction is typically a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2 reaction) where the acetate ion (OCOCH₃⁻) acts as the nucleophile. The halide ion (such as Cl⁻, Br⁻, etc.) attached to the alkyl group is replaced by the acetate group. This type of reaction can occur with primary or secondary alkyl halides, but with tertiary alkyl halides, the reaction is less favorable due to steric hindrance.
The major product formed would be an ester, where the halide is replaced by the OCOCH₃ group. For example, if the starting material is ethyl chloride (CH₃CH₂2Cl), the major product after the reaction with sodium acetate would be ethyl acetate (CH₃COOCH₂2CH₃).
The reaction's efficiency can depend on factors like the structure of the alkyl halide, the solvent used, the temperature, and the concentration of the nucleophile. Solvents that are polar and aprotic (such as DMSO, DMF, or acetonitrile) are typically used for SN2 reactions as they help stabilize the transition state and favor the nucleophilic attack.