Question

In the preparation of ethyl chloride by Grooves?>[Anhyd.ZnCl_2] CH_2CH_2Cl + H_2O}$the main reason for using anhydrous$ {ZnCl_2}$ as catalyst is that

• A. it absorbs water thereby pushing the equilibrium to the right
• B. it coordinates with the product $\ce{CH_3CH_2Cl}$ and drives the reaction to the right
• C. it helps in producing the nucleophile CL from HCl
• D. it coodinates with oxygen of ethyl alcohol and thus increases the leaving group ability of the -OH group

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

it coodinates with oxygen of ethyl alcohol and thus increases the leaving group ability of the -OH group

Answer 2

${ZnCl_2}$ being a Lewis acid coordinates with the O atom of ${C_2H_5OH}$.