-->

Haloalkanes And Haloarenes

Question
CBSEENCH12007847

The treatment of alkyl chlorides with aqueous KOH leads to the formation of alcohols but in presence of alcoholic KOH alkenes are major products. Explain.

Solution
Aqueous KOH contains only OHions, which acts as nucleophile and these bring about hydrolysis of alkyl chlorides to the corresponding alcohol.
RCl space space plus stack OH to the power of minus left parenthesis aq right parenthesis space with left parenthesis only space nucleophile space present right parenthesis below rightwards arrow with Hydrolysis on top space ROH plus Cl to the power of minus left parenthesis aq right parenthesis
On the other hand, alcoholic KOH contains ethoxide ions (C2H5O), which are more basic than OH ions. Consequently, the ethoxide ions preferentially brings about dehydro halogenation to form alkenes e.g.,