Question

Write a structural formula for the principal organic product formed in the reaction of methyl bromide with each of the following compounds:

1. Sodium hydroxide

2. Potassium ethoxide

3. Sodium benzoate

4. Lithium azide

Answer 1

When methyl bromide reacts with sodium hydroxide, potassium ethoxide, sodium benzoate, and lithium azide, the principal organic products are methanol, methyl ethyl ether, methyl benzoate, and methyl azide, respectively.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks for the structural formulas for the principal organic product formed when methyl bromide reacts with various compounds. Methyl bromide ("CH3Br") is an alkyl halide and can undergo nucleophilic substitution (SN2) with the mentioned compounds, resulting in the replacement of the bromine atom with the nucleophilic portion of each compound.

• Sodium hydroxide (NaOH): The hydroxide ion ("OH-") displaces the bromide ion ("Br-") to give methanol ("CH3OH").
• Potassium ethoxide (KOC2H5): The ethoxide ion ("C2H5O-") will replace the bromide group resulting in methyl ethyl ether ("CH3OC2H5").
• Sodium benzoate (NaC6H5COO): The benzoate ion ("C6H5COO-") will replace the bromide ion forming methyl benzoate ("C6H5COOCH3").
• Lithium azide (LiN3): The azide ion ("N3-") will replace the bromide ion to give methyl azide ("CH3N3").