Question

Find the products in the given chemical reaction: ${C_6}{H_5} - COOAg + B{r_2} + CC{l_4} + reflux \to$

Answer 1

Here, we have an alkyl silver salt of carboxylic acid reacting with bromine and tetrachloromethane and reflux. This reaction can be explained by using the Hunsdiecker reaction. In this reaction, an alkyl halide is formed from the reaction between carboxylic salt of silver and a halogen.

Complete step-by-step answer: ${C_6}{H_5} - COOAg + B{r_2} + CC{l_4} + reflux \to$
Here, the silver salt of carboxylic acid is occupying the position of the replaced hydrogen in the benzene ring.
The alkyl carboxylic salt of silver in this reaction is also called silver benzoate ${C_6}{H_5} - COOAg$ $\left( {{C_7}{H_5}Ag{O_2}} \right)$
When an alkyl carboxylic salt of silver reacts with a halogen it forms an alkyl halide. This reaction is known as the Hunsdiecker reaction.
The general formula for this reaction can be given as follows:
$R - COOAg + {X_2} + CC{l_4} \to R - X + AgX + C{O_2}$
Here, R is any alkyl or an aryl chain.
Silver benzoate reacts with a halogen and in this case, bromine.
Silver benzoate reacts with bromine to give unstable reaction intermediates in the presence of tetrachloromethane and those intermediates immediately decarboxylate to form alkyl halides.
The equation for this reaction is given as
${C_6}{H_5} - COOAg + B{r_2} + CC{l_4} + reflux \to {C_6}{H_5}Br + AgBr + C{O_2}$

Additional information: Bromine is a liquid at room temperature. Bromine has many economic uses in the agricultural, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industry. Bromine vapors are very harmful to the human body. The very slightest amounts can cause asphyxiation and death.

Therefore, the products in this reaction are ${C_6}{H_5}Br$ , $AgBr$ and Carbon dioxide.

Note: It is to be noted that Carbon tetrachloride does not participate in the formation of products. It is only used as a solvent to let the reaction happen smoothly. The Carbon dioxide formed as a product is emitted as gas.