Alkanes are the backbone of organic molecules, yet they are almost completely unreactive.
The only reaction alkanes undergo is radical halogenation, the gateway to the rest of organic synthesis.
Concept #1: The one reaction that alkanes will actually undergo.
Concept #2: Radical Chain Reaction Mechanism.
Alkanes will react with diatomic halogens in the presence of heat, light or any other radical initiator.
Example #1: Explaining the following example problem.
Example #2: Show the entire chain reaction mechanism for the following Radical Halogenation reaction, predicting which would be the structure of the major alkyl halide produced.