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What are the #"Wurtz"# and #"Kolbe"# reactions?

Answer 1

The #"Wurtz reaction"# is simply radical coupling; the #"Kolbe reaction"# is simply carboxylation of phenoxide.............

Neither of these reactions, as far as I can tell (and I welcome correction), is very helpful in the lab:

#"Wurtz reaction:"#

#2R-X + 2Na rarr [2R* + 2NaX] rarr R-R +2NaX#

The reaction is obviously non-selective but thermodynamically downhill.

#"Kolbe Reaction:"#

#C_6H_5OH + 2NaOH stackrel("CO"_2"/"Delta)rarr 1,2-C_6H_4CO_2^(-)Na^(+)(OH)#

High carbon dioxide pressures are required for this process, and the final products—substituted hydroxy benzoic acids—are used to synthesize aspirin.

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Answer 2

Easton Jones

The Wurtz reaction involves the coupling of two alkyl halides to form a higher alkane. The Kolbe reaction involves the electrolysis of a salt of a carboxylic acid, leading to the formation of a higher carboxylic acid.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.