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Haloalkanes And Haloarenes

Question
CBSEENCH12007746

When a haloalkane reacts with AgNO2 then nitroalkane is formed but the reaction of KNO2 with a haloalkane gives alkyl nitrite. Give reasons and write the two reactions.

Solution
In AgNO2 the nucleophile is NO2 group while in potassium nitrite (KNO2) the nucleophile is O– —N = O group. Therefore, these two reagents form two types of compounds with haloalkanes.
(i)    stack straight R space minus space straight X with H a l o a l k a n e below plus space stack A g to the power of plus N O subscript 2 to the power of minus with S i l v e r space n i t r i t e below space space rightwards arrow space space space stack K N O subscript 2 with N i t r o space a l k a n e below space plus space stack A g X with S i l v e r space h a l i d e below
(ii)
  stack space straight R minus straight X with space space space space Haloalkane below space plus space stack straight K minus straight O minus straight N with Potassium space nitrite below equals straight O space space rightwards arrow space space stack straight R minus straight O minus straight N equals straight O with Alkyl space nitrite below space plus space KX with Potassium space halide below