Chapter 10, Problem 36P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The radical mechanism for the given process is to be written.

Concept introduction:

Electrophiles are electron-deficient species, which has positive or partially positive charge. Lewis acids are electrophiles, which accept electron pair.

Nucleophiles are electron-rich species, which has negative or partially negative charge. Lewis bases are nucleophiles, which donate electron pair.

Radical is an atom or molecule that has an unpaired valence electron. These unpaired electrons make radical highly chemically reactive.

Substitution reaction: A reaction in which one of the hydrogen atoms of a hydrocarbon or a functional group is substituted by any other functional group is called substitution reaction.

Elimination reaction: A reaction in which two substituent groups are detached and a double bond is formed is called elimination reaction.

Addition reaction: It is the reaction in which unsaturated bonds are converted to saturated molecules by the addition of molecules.

Reduction is a process in which hydrogen atoms are added to a compound.

Homolytic fission is that fission in which each atom in the bond has an electron which results in species called free radical.

In heterolytic fission, when covalent bond is broken, the shared pair of electron is taken by one of the atoms.

A type of halogenation in which alkanes and aromatics, which are alkyl substituted, react chemically in presence of light is known as free radical halogenation. It involves chain initiation, propagation, and termination steps in its whole mechanism. The free radical halogenation reaction is used in industries to synthesize dichloromethane and chloroform.

$2,2\text{'}-\text{azobisisobutyronitrile}$(AIBN) undergoes homolytic cleavage to form isobutyronitrile radical, which helps in the initiation of the reaction.