Hydrolysis of halogenoalkanes

 

This reaction is suitable for the preparation of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols. All halogenoalkane when heated under reflux with aqueous potassium hydroxide solution are hydrolysed to yield an alcohol

 

    RX + KOH     ROH +     X^–

reflux

 

    Where X= I , Br , Cl     and R= alkyl group

 

The ease of reaction of the halogenoalkanes follows the order

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p style=”margin-left: 17pt”>RI > RBr > RCl