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Question 58 of 66

Q.Write chemical reactions of following reagents on methoxyethane:

(i) hot HI
(ii) PCl5PCl_5
(iii) dilute H2SO4H_2SO_4
Maharashtra MsbshseMaharashtra HSC (MSBSHSE) Board 2022Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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Methoxyethane's ether linkage is cleaved by hot HI (via SN2 at the less-hindered methyl carbon), by PCl₅, and hydrolysed back to its two alcohols by dilute acid.

(i) With hot HI: Ether cleavage occurs by SN2S_N2 attack of iodide at the less sterically hindered (methyl) carbon, giving methyl iodide and ethanol:

CH3−O−C2H5+HI→ΔCH3I+C2H5OHCH_3-O-C_2H_5 + HI \xrightarrow{\Delta} CH_3I + C_2H_5OH

(ii) With PCl5PCl_5: Phosphorus pentachloride cleaves the C–O bonds of the ether, converting both alkyl groups to their chlorides:

CH3−O−C2H5+PCl5→CH3Cl+C2H5Cl+POCl3CH_3-O-C_2H_5 + PCl_5 \rightarrow CH_3Cl + C_2H_5Cl + POCl_3

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