Haloalkanes and Haloarenes: Introduction

Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

INTRODUCTION

In the previous unit we learnt about the chemistry of hydrocarbons. In this unit us learn about organic compounds containing halogens. When one or more hydrogen atoms of aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons are replaced by the corresponding number of halogens like fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, the resultant compounds are called either haloalkanes or halo arenes. They serve as starting materials for many organic synthesis.

Halogen substituted organic compounds are widely spread in nature and find application in our day to day life as well as in industry. Certain compounds like chloramphenicol produced by soil microbes are used in the treatment of typhoid; chloroquine is used in the treatment of malaria, halothane is used as an anesthetic, and halogenated solvents like trichloroethylene are used for cleaning electronic equipments.