Iodoform reaction
Ethanal gives triiodomethane and methanoate in the alkaline iodine iodoform reaction.
- Reagents
- I2(aq), NaOH(aq)
- Conditions
- warm gently
- Reaction class
- iodoform reaction
- Equation
- CH3CHO + 3 I2 + 4 OH- -> HCO2- + CHI3 + 3 I- + 3 H2O
Overview
Ethanal gives triiodomethane and methanoate in the alkaline iodine iodoform reaction.
Transformation
Ethanal → Triiodomethane products
- Equation
- CH3CHO + 3 I2 + 4 OH- -> HCO2- + CHI3 + 3 I- + 3 H2O
- Reagents
- I2(aq), NaOH(aq)
- Environment
- warm gently
- Reaction class
- iodoform reaction
- Mechanism
- haloform reaction
- Evidence level
- textbook core
Scope and limitations
- Scope
- Ethanal is the aldehyde that gives the iodoform reaction under alkaline iodine conditions.
- Limitations
- This edge does not imply that all aldehydes give the iodoform reaction; it records ethanal as the named exception.
Related reactions
- Iodoform reaction: Methyl ketones → Triiodomethane products
Alkaline iodine converts methyl ketones into yellow triiodomethane and a carboxylate with one fewer carbon.
- Iodoform reaction: Ethanol → Triiodomethane products
Ethanol is oxidised and cleaved by alkaline iodine to give triiodomethane and methanoate.
- Iodoform reaction: Methyl secondary alcohols → Triiodomethane products
Methyl secondary alcohols are oxidised to methyl ketones, then cleaved to triiodomethane and a one-carbon-shorter carboxylate.
- Partial oxidation: Ethanol → Ethanal
Ethanol is oxidised to ethanal.
- Oxidation: Ethanal → Ethanoic acid
Ethanal is oxidised to ethanoic acid.
- Reduction: Ethanal → Ethanol
Ethanal is reduced to ethanol.
References
- Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Chemistry specificationPearson Education Limited · Pearson qualifications · 2024
Supports the textbook-core organic reaction routes used for displayed route and mechanism content.