Question

The reaction of $C_2{H}_{5}Cl$ with Li and $\text{CuI}$ gives mainly

• A. 2-butene
• B. 1, 3-butadiene
• C. n-butane
• D. n-butyl chloride

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Alkyl halide reacts with Li and $\text{CuI}$ in the presence of ether to give lithium dialkyl cuprate which further reacts with alkyl halide to give alkane. This reaction is called Corey-House reaction. ${\text{C}}_2{H}_{2}Cl+2Li\stackrel{\text{Ether}}{\to }{C}_2{H}_{5}Li+LiBr$ $2C_2{H}_{5}Li+CuI\underset{-LiI}{\to }\underset{\text{lithium}\text{dialkyl}\text{cuprate}}{Li{(C_2{H}_5)}_{2}Cu}$ $Li{(C_2{H}_5)}_{2}Cu+C_2{H}_{5}Cl\to$ $\underset{\text{n}-\text{butane}}{C_2{H}_5-C_2{H}_5}+C_2{H}_{5}Cu+LiCl$