Lecture Notes on some important Name Reactions

Wurtz Fitting Reaction

                     Wurtz Fitting reaction is a method to prepare alkyl derivative of arene by means of general Wurtz reaction.

C6H5I + 2Na + I-CH3 C6H5CH3 + 2Na

It is just a modification of Wurtz reaction – a method of synthesizing alkanes using alkyl 

halide and sodium in ether medium.

e.g. of i) Wurtz Reaction:   

CH3I + 2Na + I-CH3 C2H6 + 2NaI 

Ether medium

 

 ii) Fitting Reaction: C6H5I + 2NaI + I-C6H5 C6H5C6H5+ 2NaI

Wurtz Fitting reaction is the combination of these two above reactions – Wurtz reaction 

and Fitting reaction. Yield is very poor (10 - 5%) due to the formation of many side 

products.

Mechanism: Most widely accepted mechanism involves formation of organometallic 

compound as below: 

C6H5I + 2Na C6H5

-Na+

+ NaI

C6H5

-Na+

+ R-I C6H5R + NaI

Application and Extension:

i) Widely used for polynuclear hydrocarbon

ii) In the synthesis of anthracene:

iii) In the synthesis of Phenanthrene