Preparation of Haloalkanes
^{by Halide Exchange Reactions}

In halide exchange reactions, the halide of an alkyl halide gets replaced by another halide. Alkyl iodides and alkyl fluorides are generally prepared by halide exchange reaction.

Preparation of Alkyl Iodides

Finkelstein reaction is generally used to prepare alkyl iodides.

Finkelstein Reaction

In Finkelstein reaction, chloroalkanes or bromoalkanes are heated with sodium iodide in acetone or methanol to produce iodoalkanes.

Preparation of Alkyl Fluorides

Swart's reaction is generally used to prepare fluoroalkanes.

Swart's Reaction

In Swart's reaction, inorganic fluorides (e.g. AgF, Hg₂F₂, CoF₂, CoF₃, SbF₃ etc) are heated with suitable haloalkanes to produce alkyl fluorides.

Example : In the following reaction, methyl fluoride is prepared by heating methyl bromide with silver(I) fluoride.

CoF₃, SbF₃ are used when the haloalkane contains more than one halides on the same carbon.

Example : 2,2-Dichloropropane is heated with antimony trifluoride (SbF₃) to form 2,2-difluoropropane.