Reactions of Alkyl Halides in Fused Salt Media

Abstract

Passage of C1 to C, haloalkanes through SnC1,-KC1 melts results in halide exchange reactions, alkene formation, and rearrangement (including cyclization) reactions of the organic molecules. Relative reactivities, product distributions and melt composition efects are consistent with a carbonium ion niechanisni in which the melt functions as a halide ion acceptor. Some control of product distribution by choice of Lewis acid character of the melt seems possible.