An alkane C8H18 is obtained as the only product on subjecting a primary alkyl halide to Wurtz reaction. On monobromination this alkane yields a single isomer of a tertiary bromide. Write the structure of alkane and the tertiary bromide.


Wurtz reaction involves formation of higher molecular alkanes by intermolecular condensation of alkyl halides and the number of carbon atom is always double of the reactant. So for the given compound with molecular formula C8H18, the initial starting product should be a 3° alkyl hailde containing four carbon atoms.


Also the information is given that the given compound only gives one mono-brominated product which implies there is only one kind of hydrogen in entire compound. This can be achieved if the reactant involves only one kind of hydrogen to begin with. Thus our selected reactant should be 2-bromo-2-methylpropane. The Wurtz reaction carried out will be as follows:



As there is only primary hydrogen in the product, on further treatment with hydrogen halide it will only give one brominated product.


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