9.9 Alkylation of Acetylide Ions | Organic Chemistry

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12 Dec 202003:53
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TLDRThe video transcript discusses a crucial reaction in organic chemistry, the alkylation of acetylide ions. It begins by recalling the formation of acetylide ions through the deprotonation of terminal alkynes using sodium amide. These ions are highlighted as strong nucleophiles, capable of participating in SN2 reactions. The video demonstrates how an acetylide ion can react with a primary alkyl halide, resulting in a backside attack that forms a new carbon-carbon bond and effectively elongates the carbon chain by three carbons. This reaction is emphasized as one of the most important in the chapter and a fundamental technique in organic chemistry for creating larger carbon chains from smaller ones, which is essential for synthetic organic chemists. The summary concludes by noting the significance of learning such reactions for synthesis purposes and hints at further methods to be covered in the course.

Takeaways
  • πŸ§ͺ The alkylation of acetylide ions is a significant reaction in organic chemistry, distinct from alkene addition reactions.
  • πŸ” Terminal alkynes can be deprotonated using sodium amide to form a conjugate base known as an acetylide ion.
  • 🌟 Acetylide ions are strong nucleophiles and bases, which makes them highly reactive in chemical reactions.
  • ➑️ The reactivity of acetylide ions is demonstrated through their participation in SN2 reactions.
  • 🧠 A primary alkyl halide with a good leaving group is an ideal reactant for an SN2 reaction with an acetylide ion.
  • πŸ”„ The SN2 reaction involves a backside attack by the nucleophile, which displaces the leaving group.
  • πŸ”’ It's important to count the number of carbons added (three in this case) rather than the number of bonds.
  • πŸ“ The reaction results in the formation of a new carbon-carbon bond, which is central to organic chemistry and synthesis.
  • πŸ† Forming carbon-carbon bonds is a critical skill in organic chemistry, with new methods earning Nobel prizes.
  • πŸ› οΈ The general process for this alkylation involves forming an acetylide ion with sodium amide followed by an SN2 backside attack.
  • πŸ“š Learning a few key reactions that form carbon-carbon bonds is essential for success in organic chemistry.
  • πŸ’‘ This reaction is particularly important for synthesis problems where the reactant has a smaller carbon chain, and the product has a larger one.
Q & A
  • What is an acetylide ion?

    -An acetylide ion is the conjugate base product formed when a terminal alkyne is deprotonated using sodium amide. It is a strong base and a strong nucleophile.

  • What type of reaction is the alkylation of acetylide ions?

    -The alkylation of acetylide ions is an SN2 reaction, which is a nucleophilic substitution reaction involving a strong nucleophile and a primary alkyl halide.

  • Why are acetylide ions considered strong nucleophiles?

    -Acetylide ions are considered strong nucleophiles because they have a high affinity for electrophilic centers, allowing them to participate in SN2 reactions effectively.

  • What is the significance of forming a new carbon-carbon bond in organic chemistry?

    -Forming a new carbon-carbon bond is significant in organic chemistry because it allows for the conversion of small carbon chains into larger ones, which is a fundamental aspect of synthetic organic chemistry.

  • How many carbons are added to the carbon chain during the alkylation of acetylide ions?

    -During the alkylation of acetylide ions, three carbons are added to the carbon chain, not four, despite the appearance of multiple bonds in the structure.

  • What is the role of sodium amide in the alkylation process?

    -Sodium amide acts as a deprotonating agent, converting a terminal alkyne into an acetylide ion, which can then participate in the SN2 reaction as a nucleophile.

  • What is the importance of counting carbons rather than bonds when determining the length of the carbon chain?

    -Counting carbons rather than bonds is important because it provides an accurate measure of the carbon chain length, which is crucial for understanding the products of reactions like alkylation.

  • Why is the alkylation of acetylide ions considered the most important reaction in the chapter?

    -The alkylation of acetylide ions is considered the most important reaction in the chapter because it is a key method for forming carbon-carbon bonds, which are central to the study of organic chemistry.

  • What is the general mechanism for the alkylation of acetylide ions?

    -The general mechanism involves the formation of an acetylide ion using sodium amide, followed by a backside attack on a primary alkyl halide in an SN2 reaction, resulting in the formation of a new carbon-carbon bond.

  • How does the alkylation of acetylide ions relate to the concept of synthetic organic chemistry?

    -The alkylation of acetylide ions is directly related to synthetic organic chemistry as it demonstrates a method for creating larger carbon chains from smaller ones, which is a primary goal in the synthesis of complex organic molecules.

  • What are some other ways of forming carbon-carbon bonds that will be learned in organic chemistry?

    -While the alkylation of acetylide ions is one method, there are a few other ways to form carbon-carbon bonds that will be introduced over the course of the two-semester organic chemistry curriculum.

  • Why is the ability to form carbon-carbon bonds so highly valued in the field of organic chemistry?

    -The ability to form carbon-carbon bonds is highly valued because it is fundamental to the creation of complex organic molecules, and new methods for forming these bonds have even been recognized with Nobel prizes for their innovation and impact on the field.

Outlines
00:00
πŸ§ͺ Alkylation of Acetylide Ions and SN2 Reactions

This paragraph introduces the alkylation of acetylide ions, a significant reaction in organic chemistry. It explains that terminal alkynes can be deprotonated using sodium amide to form acetylide ions, which are strong nucleophiles. The focus is on their reactivity in SN2 reactions, where they can react with primary alkyl halides to form new carbon-carbon bonds. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of this reaction for forming larger carbon chains from smaller ones, a fundamental skill in synthetic organic chemistry.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘Alkylation
Alkylation is a chemical reaction that involves the addition of an alkyl group to a molecule. In the context of the video, alkylation is a crucial process in organic chemistry for forming carbon-carbon bonds, which is the main theme of the video.
πŸ’‘Acetylide Ions
Acetylide ions are formed when a terminal alkyne is deprotonated using sodium amide. These ions are strong nucleophiles and bases, which makes them highly reactive. In the video, acetylide ions are used to demonstrate the alkylation process, highlighting their role in forming new carbon-carbon bonds.
πŸ’‘Deprotonation
Deprotonation is the process of removing a proton (H+) from an acid to form a conjugate base. In the video, deprotonation is used to create acetylide ions from terminal alkynes, which are then available to participate in further reactions like alkylation.
πŸ’‘SN2 Reaction
An SN2 reaction is a type of nucleophilic substitution reaction where the nucleophile attacks the substrate from the opposite side of the leaving group. In the video, the SN2 reaction is the mechanism by which the acetylide ion reacts with a primary alkyl halide to form a new carbon-carbon bond.
πŸ’‘Nucleophile
A nucleophile is a species that donates an electron pair to an electrophile in a chemical reaction. In the video, the acetylide ion is described as a strong nucleophile, which is essential for its participation in the SN2 reaction to form carbon-carbon bonds.
πŸ’‘Primary Alkyl Halide
A primary alkyl halide is a type of alkyl halide where the halogen atom is attached to a carbon atom that is also bonded to at least one hydrogen atom. In the video, a primary alkyl halide is used as the other reactant in the SN2 reaction with the acetylide ion.
πŸ’‘Backside Attack
Backside attack is a term used to describe the approach of a nucleophile from the side opposite the leaving group in an SN2 reaction. In the video, the backside attack is the mechanism by which the acetylide ion displaces the leaving group in the primary alkyl halide, leading to the formation of a new carbon-carbon bond.
πŸ’‘Carbon-Carbon Bond
A carbon-carbon bond is a covalent bond between two carbon atoms. The formation of carbon-carbon bonds is central to the theme of the video, as it is a key objective in organic synthesis and is achieved through the alkylation of acetylide ions.
πŸ’‘Organic Synthesis
Organic synthesis is the design and execution of chemical reactions aimed at constructing complex organic molecules from simpler ones. The video emphasizes the importance of carbon-carbon bond formation in organic synthesis, as it is a fundamental process in creating larger carbon chains from smaller ones.
πŸ’‘Sodium Amide
Sodium amide is a strong base used in organic chemistry to deprotonate acids. In the video, sodium amide is used to deprotonate terminal alkynes, leading to the formation of acetylide ions, which are then available for alkylation reactions.
πŸ’‘Leaving Group
A leaving group is a part of a molecule that departs during a chemical reaction, often taking a small atom or group with it. In the context of the video, the leaving group is displaced from the primary alkyl halide during the SN2 reaction with the acetylide ion.
Highlights

Acetylide ions, formed by deprotonating terminal alkynes with sodium amide, are strong nucleophiles that can participate in SN2 reactions.

In an SN2 reaction with a primary alkyl halide, the acetylide ion performs a backside attack to displace the leaving group, forming a new carbon-carbon bond.

The alkylation of acetylide ions is a crucial reaction for forming carbon-carbon bonds and increasing carbon chain length in organic chemistry.

This is the first major carbon-carbon bond forming reaction covered in the course.

Learning to form carbon-carbon bonds is essential for success as a synthetic organic chemist.

Only a handful of carbon-carbon bond forming reactions will be taught over the two semesters of organic chemistry.

Winning Nobel prizes has been awarded for discovering new, creative ways to form carbon-carbon bonds.

The alkylation of acetylide ions is the most important reaction in the chapter for synthesis purposes.

When solving synthesis problems, if the reactant has a smaller carbon chain and the product has a larger one, alkylation of an acetylide ion is likely the method used.

The process involves forming the acetylide ion using sodium amide, followed by an SN2 backside attack on a primary alkyl halide.

The reaction adds three carbons to the carbon chain, not four, despite appearances.

It's important to count the number of carbons added, not the number of bonds formed.

The resulting product has a new carbon-carbon bond between the original carbon chain and the three carbons added.

This reaction is fundamental for turning small carbon chains into larger ones in organic synthesis.

The alkylation of acetylide ions will be revisited and built upon in later chapters of the course.

The instructor offers a premium course on Chatsprep.com with study guides, practice problems, and a rapid review for the final exam.

Transcripts
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