Alkanes

By Dr. Seema Gandhi

INTRODUCTION
 Organic compounds and hydrocarbons-the
compounds containing only carbon and
hydrogen.
 Hydrocarbons are divided into different classes.
 Alkanes are the hydrocarbons of aliphatic
row
 Alkanes are hydrocarbons in which all
bonds are single covalent bonds (-bonds).
Alkanes are called saturated hydrocarbons.
ALKANES- alkanes are open chain saturated hydrocarbon.
(a “family” of hydrocarbons)
CnH2n+2 CH4
C2H6
C3H8
C4H10
etc.

C2H6 ethane H H
H—C—C—H
H H
sp3, bond angles = 109.5o H H
σ-bonds (sigma) C C
HH HH
rotation about C--C (conformations)

representation:
“andiron” or “sawhorse”
 H
H H
H H
H H H

H H H H

“staggered” “eclipsed”
torsional strain: deviation from staggered.
Newman projections:

H H H
H H
H
H H H H
H H
 potential energy

3 Kcal

rotation about C-C

The barrier to rotation about the carbon-carbon bond in

ethane is 3 Kcal/mole. The rotation is ~ “free.”
C3H8 propane

H H H
H C C C H projection formula
H H H

CH3CH2CH3 partially condensed formula

 CH3 H CH3
H H
H
H H H H
H H

staggered eclipsed
potential energy

3.4 Kcal

rotation about C-C

C4H10 butane(s)
H
H C H
H H H H H H
H C C C C H H C C C H projection
H H H H H H H

CH3
partially condensed
CH3CH2CH2CH3 CH3CHCH3

stick formulas
Two isomers of butane C4H10:

CH3CH2CH2CH3 n-butane

bp 0 oC
mp –138 oC
d 0.622 g/cc

CH3
CH3CHCH3 isobutane

bp -12 oC
mp -159 oC
d 0.604 g/cc
Conformations about C2-C3 in n-butane:

CH3 H CH3
H H
H
H H H H
CH3 H3C

anti CH3/H eclipsed

CH3 H3C CH3

H3C H
H
H H H H
H H

gauche CH3/CH3 eclipsed

conformations about C2-C3 in n-butane:

H3CCH3

CH3

H3C
4.4-6.1 Kcal
potential energy

3.4 Kcal
0.8 Kcal
CH3
CH3 H3C

CH3 gauche
anti
rotation
 C5H12 pentane(s)

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3 n-pentane

CH3
CH3CHCH2CH3 isopentane

CH3

CH3CCH3 neopentane
CH3

these are common, or trivial, names where a prefix is

used to idicate the structure.
Alkane name isomers
CH4 methane 1
C2H6 ethane 1
C3H8 propane 1
C4H10 butanes 2
C5H12 pentanes 3 each new common
C6H14 hexanes 5 name requires a new
C7H16 heptanes 9 prefix…

C8H18 octanes 18
C9H20 nonanes 35
C10H22 decanes 75
…….
C20H42 eicosanes 366,319
hexanes C6H14 common names

CH3
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 CH3CHCH2CH2CH3
n-hexane isohexane

CH3 CH3
CH3CH2CHCH2CH3 CH3CCH2CH3
????? CH3
neohexane

CH3
CH3CHCHCH3
CH3
????
IUPAC nomenclature (Geneva, 1920)

names of radicals (alkyl groups):

CH3- “methyl” CH3Cl methyl chloride
CH3OH methyl alcohol, etc.

CH3CH2- “ethyl”

CH3CH2CH2- “n-propyl” CH3CHCH3 “isopropyl”

|
CH3CH2CH2CH2- “n-butyl”

CH3
CH3CH2CHCH3 or CH3CH2CH- “sec-butyl”
|

CH3
CH3CHCH2- “isobutyl”

CH3
CH3CCH3 “tert-butyl”
|
n-propyl bromide

CH3CH2CH2Br BrCH2CH2CH3 CH3

CH2CH2Br

isopropyl bromide
CH3 CH3
CH3CHCH3 CHBr
CH3CHBr
Br CH3
n-butyl chloride

CH3CH2CH2CH2Cl CH3CH2CH2CH2 ClCH2CH2CH2CH3

Cl

sec-butyl chloride
CH3
CH3CHCH2CH3 CH3CH2CHCH3 CH3CH2CHCl
Cl Cl
isobutyl alcohol

CH3 CH3 CH3

CH3CHCH2 CH3CH HO-CH2CHCH3
OH CH2OH

tert-butyl alcohol

CH3 CH3
CH3CCH3 CH3C-OH
OH CH3
IUPAC rules for naming alkanes:
1. parent chain = longest continuous carbon chain  “alkane”.
2. branches on the parent chain are named as “alkyl” groups.
3. number the parent chain starting from the end that gives you the
lower number for the first branch (principle of lower number).
4. assign “locants” to the alkyl branches.
5. if an alkyl group appears more than once use prefixes: di, tri,
tetra, penta…; each alkyl group must have a locant!
6. the name is written as one word with the parent name last. The
names and locants for the alkyl branches are put in alphabetic
order (ignore all prefixes except iso) separating numbers from
numbers with commas and letters from numbers with hyphens.
hexanes C6H14 IUPAC names
CH3
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 CH3CHCH2CH2CH3
(n-hexane) (isohexane)
n-hexane 2-methylpentane

CH3 CH3
CH3CH2CHCH2CH3 CH3CCH2CH3
(no common name) CH3
3-methylpentane (neohexane)
2,2-dimethylbutane
CH3
CH3CHCHCH3
CH3
(no common name)
2,3-dimethylbutane
CH3CH2
CH2CHCH2CHCH3 2,4-dimethylheptane
CH3 CH3

CH3 CH3
CH
CH3CH2CH2CHCH2 CH3
CH2CH2CCH3
CH3

6-isopropyl-2,2-dimethylnonane
“classes of carbons”
primary carbon (1o) – a carbon bonded to one carbon
secondary carbon (2o) – a carbon bonded to two carbons
tertiary carbon (3o) – a carbon bonded to three carbons
quaternary carbon (4o) – a carbon bonded to four carbons

1o
4o
CH3 CH3
CH3CHCH2CH2CCH3 1o
CH3
3o 2o
classification of hydrogens, halides – hydrogens or halides
are classified by the carbon to which they are attached.
1o
CH3
CH3CHCH2CH2CH3
1o 3o 2o 2o 1o

CH3CH2CHCH3 sec-butyl bromide 2o bromide

Br

CH3
CH3CCH3 tert-butyl chloride 3o chloride
Cl
alkanes, physical properties
non-polar or only weakly polar, cannot hydrogen bond 
relatively weak intermolecular forces
lower mp/bp; increase with size; decrease with branching
@ room temperature:
C1 – C4 are gases
C5 – C17 are liquids
> C17 are solids
alkanes are water insoluble
alkane mp oC bp oC
methane -183 -162
ethane -172 -89
propane -187 -42
n-butane -138 0
n-pentane -130 36
n-hexane -95 69
…
n-heptadecane 22 292
n-octadecane 28 308

branching lowers mp/bp

n-pentane -130 36
isopentane -160 28
fossil fuels:
natural gas
petroleum
coal
petroleum is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons
1. solvents
2. fuels
3. raw materials for chemical syntheses
separated into fractions by fractional distillation in an oil
refinery
products from fractional distillation of petroleum:
fraction b. range carbons
natural gas below 20o C1 – C4
petroleum “ether” 20 – 60o C5 – C6
ligroin 60 – 100o C6 – C7
raw gasoline 40 – 205o C5 – C10
kerosine 175 – 325o C12 – C18
gas oil above 275o C12 & up
lube oil non-volaltile liquids
asphalt non-volatile solids
coke solid carbon
syntheses

Industrial Laboratory
large amounts (tons) small amounts (grams)
lowest cost non-profit
mixtures often okay pure substances
dedicated apparatus flexible apparatus
Alkanes, syntheses:
1)Reduction of an alkyl halide
a) hydrolysis of a Grignard reagent
b) with an active metal and an acid
2)Corey-House synthesis
(coupling of an alkyl halide with lithium dialkylcopper)
2. Reduction of an alkyl halide
a) hydrolysis of a Grignard reagent (two steps)
i) R—X + Mg  RMgX (Grignard reagent)
ii) RMgX + H2O  RH + Mg(OH)X
SB SA WA WB

CH3CH2CH2-Br + Mg  CH3CH2CH2-MgBr
n-propyl bromide n-propyl magnesium bromide

CH3CH2CH2-MgBr + H2O  CH3CH2CH3 + Mg(OH)Br

propane
 CH3 CH3
CH3CH-Br + Mg  CH3CH-MgBr
isopropyl bromide isopropyl magnesium bromide

CH3
CH3CH-MgBr + H2O  CH3CH2CH3
propane

CH3CH2CH2-MgBr + D2O  CH3CH2CH2D

heavy water

CH3 CH3
CH3CH-MgBr + D2O  CH3CHD
b) with an active metal and an acid
R—X + metal/acid  RH
active metals = Sn, Zn, Fe, etc.
acid = HCl, etc. (H+)

CH3CH2CHCH3 + Sn/HCl  CH3CH2CH2CH3 + SnCl2

Cl
sec-butyl chloride n-butane

CH3 CH3
CH3CCH3 + Zn/H+  CH3CHCH3 + ZnBr2
Br
tert-butyl bromide isobutane
3. Corey-House synthesis

R-X + Li  R-Li + CuI  R2CuLi

R2CuLi + R´-X  R—R´ (alkane)

(R´-X should be 1o or methyl)

This synthesis is important because it affords a synthesis of
a larger alkane from two smaller alkyl halides.
R-X + 2 Li  R-Li + LiX

2 R-Li + CuI  R2CuLi + LiX

R
R2CuLi = R-Cu-, Li+

R2CuLi + R´X  R-R´ + RCu + LiX

 CH3 CH3 CH3
CH3CH-Br + Li  CH3CH-Li + CuI  (CH3CH)2-CuLi
isopropyl bromide

CH3 CH3
(CH3CH)2-CuLi + CH3CH2CH2-Br  CH3CH-CH2CH2CH3
2-methylpentane
(isohexane)

Note: the R´X should be a 1o or methyl halide for the best yields
of the final product.
ALKYL HALIDES

Li
Mg
Sn,HCl
H2O
CuI

ALKANES R’X
Reactions of alkanes:
alkane + H2SO4  no reaction (NR)
alkane + NaOH  NR
alkane + Na  NR
alkane + KMnO4  NR
alkane + H2,Ni  NR
alkane + Br2  NR
alkane + H2O  NR
(Alkanes are typically non-reactive. They don’t react with
acids, bases, active metals, oxidizing agents, reducing agents,
halogens, etc.)
Alkane, reactions:

1. Halogenation

2. Combustion (oxidation)

3. Pyrolysis (cracking)
2. Combustion

CnH2n+2 + (xs) O2, flame  n CO2 + (n+1) H2O + heat

gasoline, diesel, heating oil…

3. Pyrolyis (cracking)

alkane, 400-600oC  smaller alkanes + alkenes + H2

Used to increase the yield of gasoline from petroleum. Higher
boiling fractions are “cracked” into lower boiling fractions
that are added to the raw gasoline. The alkenes can be
separated and used in to make plastics.
1. Halogenation

R-H + X2, heat or hv  R-X + HX

a) heat or light required for reaction.

b) X2: Cl2 > Br2  I2
c) yields mixtures 
d) H: 3o > 2o > 1o > CH4
e) bromine is more selective
CH3CH3 + Cl2, hv  CH3CH2-Cl + HCl
ethane ethyl chloride

CH3CH2CH3 + Cl2, hv  CH3CH2CH2-Cl + CH3CHCH3

propane n-propyl chloride Cl
isopropyl chloride
45%
55%

gives a mixture of both the possible

alkyl halides! 
CH3CH2CH2CH3 + Cl2, hv  CH3CH2CH2CH2-Cl 28%
n-butane n-butyl chloride
+
CH3CH2CHCH3 72%
Cl
sec-butyl chloride

CH3 CH3
CH3CHCH3 + Cl2, hv  CH3CHCH2-Cl 64%
isobutane isobutyl chloride
+
CH3
CH3CCH3 36%
Cl
tert-butyl chloride
CH3CH3 + Br2, hv  CH3CH2-Br + HBr
ethane ethyl bromide

CH3CH2CH3 + Br2, hv  CH3CH2CH2-Br + CH3CHCH3

propane n-propyl bromide Br
isopropyl bromide
3%
97%
CH3CH2CH2CH3 + Br2, hv  CH3CH2CH2CH2-Br 2%
n-butane n-butyl bromide
+
CH3CH2CHCH3 98%
Br
sec-butyl bromide

CH3 CH3
CH3CHCH3 + Br2, hv  CH3CHCH2-Br <1%
isobutane isobutyl bromide
+
CH3
CH3CCH3 99%
Br
tert-butyl bromide
In the reaction of alkanes with halogens, bromine is less
reactive but more selective. Why? How? mechanism:
initiating step:
1) X—X  2 X•
propagating steps:
2) X• + R—H  H—X + R•
3) R• + X—X  R—X + X•
2), 3), 2), 3)…
terminating steps:
4) 2 X•  X—X
5) R• + X•  R—X
6) 2 R•  R—R
chlorination of propane, mechanism:
1) Cl—Cl  2 Cl•
2) abstraction of 1o hydrogen:
Cl• + CH3CH2CH3  CH3CH2CH2• + HCl
or abstraction of 2o hydrogen:
Cl• + CH3CH2CH3  CH3CHCH3 + HCl
•
3) CH3CH2CH2• + Cl2  CH3CH2CH2Cl + Cl•
or CH3CHCH3 + Cl2  CH3CHCH3 + Cl•
• Cl
plus terminating steps
2) abstraction of 1o hydrogen:
Cl• + CH3CH2CH3  CH3CH2CH2• + HCl
or abstraction of 2o hydrogen:
Cl• + CH3CH2CH3  CH3CHCH3 + HCl
•
The chloride that is produced depends on which hydrogen is
abstracted by the chlorine free radical in step 2. The n-
propyl free radical gives the n-propyl chloride while the
isopropyl free radical yields the isopropyl chloride.
The relative reactivity in chlorination:
H: 3o : 2o : 1o = 5.0 : 3.8 : 1.0
The number of hydrogens (probability factor) may also be
important.
CH3CH2CH2CH3 + Cl2, hv  CH3CH2CH2CH2-Cl
n-butane
+ CH3CH2CHCH3
Cl

n-butyl chloride = (# of 1o hydrogens) x (reactivity of 1o)

= 6 x 1.0 = 6.0
sec-butyl chloride = (# of 2o hydrogens) x (reactivity of 2o)
= 4 x 3.8 = 15.2
% n-butyl chloride = 6.0/(6.0 + 15.2) x 100% = 28%
% sec-butyl chloride = 15.2/(6.0 + 15.2) x 100% = 72%
 CH3 CH3 CH3
CH3CHCH3 + Cl2, hv  CH3CHCH2-Cl + CH3CCH3
isobutane Cl

isobutyl chloride = (# of 1o H’s) x (reactivity of 1o)

= 9 x 1.0 = 9.0

tert-butyl chloride = (# of 3o H’s) x (reactivity of 3o)

= 1 x 5.0 = 5.0

% isobutyl = (9.0/(9.0 + 5.0)) x 100% = 64%

In this case the probability factor outweighs the difference in

relative reactivity of 1o and 3o hydrogens.
Relative reactivity in bromination:
3o : 2o : 1o = 1600 : 82 : 1
In bromination the relative reactivity differences are much greater
than any probability differences.

isobutane + Br2, hv  isobutyl bromide + tert-butyl bromide

isobutyl bromide = 9 H x 1 = 9
tert-butyl bromide = 1 H x 1600 = 1600
% tert-butyl bromide = (1600/1601) x 100% = >99%
Why is relative reactivity of H: 3o > 2o > 1o ?
CH3—H  CH3• + H• ΔH = 104 Kcal/mole
CH3CH2—H  CH3CH2• + H• ΔH = 98 Kcal/mole
1o free radical
CH3CH2CH3  CH3CH2CH2• + H• ΔH = 98 Kcal/mole
1o free radical
CH3CHCH3 + H• ΔH = 95 Kcal/mole
•
2o free radical

CH3 CH3
CH3CHCH3  CH3CCH3 + H• ΔH = 92 Kcal/mole
o
•
3 free radical
Relative reactivity in halogenation:
Stability of free radicals:
Ease of formation of free radicals:
Ease of abstraction of H’s:

3o > 2o > 1o > CH4

1. Halogenation

R-H + X2, heat or hv  R-X + HX

a) heat or light required for reaction.

b) X2: Cl2 > Br2  I2
c) yields mixtures 
d) H: 3o > 2o > 1o > CH4
e) bromine is more selective
Reactivity of Alkanes
 Alkanes have only strong, nonpolar  bonds
 No reaction with nucleophiles or electrophiles
 Not much reactivity - paraffins (little affinity)