Question

Question: Draw a stepwise mechanism for the following reaction.

Short answer

Answer

The stepwise mechanism of the haloform reaction is shown below.

Step-by-step solution

Haloform reaction

Halogenation is carried out by treating a carbonyl compound with alpha hydrogen atoms with a halogen in the presence of a base. When excess halogens are present, all the possible acidic protons get replaced by halogens. This reaction is known as the haloform reaction.

Mechanism involved in the haloform reaction

The first step is the abstraction of a base. The second step is the formation of an enolate, followed by the third step that is the attack of an electrophile in the presence of a base.

Representation of the stepwise reaction scheme of the haloform reaction.