Question

Which of the following compounds will react with Na to form 4,5-diethyloctane?
A.

B.

C.

D.

Answer 1

Hint: First, you just need to write the structural formula of the compound that is our final product (4,5-diethyloctane). This reaction is a type of coupling reaction where two molecules of alkyl halide merge with each other to form higher alkane.

Complete step by step answer:
First, we should know about the reaction involved in this conversion -

Wurtz reaction is an organic chemical coupling reaction wherein sodium metal is reacted with two alkyl halides in the environment provided by a solution of dry ether in order to form a higher alkane along with a compound containing sodium and the halogen.
We are given the same conditions in the question.

Now, we will draw the structure of 4,5-diethyloctane.

From this structure of 4,5-diethyloctane, we can conclude that we need an alkyl halide that has six carbons and a halogen group present on the third carbon of this molecule.
The structure of the molecule should look like this,

Therefore, we can conclude that the correct answer to this question is option D.

Note: There are other reactions that have some similarity with Wurtz reaction,
Wurtz–Fittig reaction - The Wurtz–Fittig reaction is the chemical reaction of aryl halides with alkyl halides and sodium metal in the presence of dry ether to give substituted aromatic compounds.
Fittig reaction - When 2 moles of aryl halide reacts with sodium(Na) in the presence of dry ether then biphenyl is obtained. This reaction is known as Fittig reaction.