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How are vicinal dihalides made from alkenes?
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organohalogen compound
Vinyl chloride is an organohalogen compound that has important industrial applications. When treated with certain catalysts, vinyl chloride monomers undergo polymerization and form the larger compound known as polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. PVC is used in the manufacture of numerous products, including packaging films and water pipes.
Vicinal dihalidesācompounds featuring halogen atoms on adjacent carbon atomsāare synthesized through the reaction between an alkene and a halogen, such as chlorine or bromine.21
This process is an addition reaction that occurs rapidly at room temperature and does not require a catalyst. A primary industrial example of this synthesis is the reaction of ethylene with chlorine to produce 1,2-dichloroethane, which serves as a vital precursor for the production of vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).12