IChO 1972 · Theory problem 5

Hydrocarbon giving a single bromination product

Only one product was obtained by the reaction of bromine with an unknown hydrocarbon. Its density was 5,207 times as great as that of the air.

Problem:

5.1 Determine the structural formula of the unknown hydrocarbon.

Relative atomic masses: \(A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{H}) = 1;\quad A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{C}) = 12;\quad A_{\mathrm r}(\ce{Br}) = 80.\)

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 5.1 The hydrocarbon is 2,2-dimethylpropane (neopentane), \(\ce{C(CH3)4}\), SMILES: CC(C)(C)C. Its central carbon atom is bonded to four methyl groups.

Solution

5.1

For gases at the same temperature and pressure, the density ratio equals the molar-mass ratio. Taking the usual mean molar mass of air as \(29.0\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), the brominated product has molar mass

\[ M_{\text{product}} =5.207\,M_{\text{air}} \approx5.207\times29.0 \approx151\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

Two bromine atoms alone would contribute \(160\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\). Consequently, the product contains one bromine atom, and ordinary addition of bromine across a multiple bond is excluded. The reaction is substitution of a hydrogen atom by bromine.

Write the product formula as \(\ce{C_nH_mBr}\). Using the supplied atomic masses,

\[ 12n+m+80=151, \qquad 12n+m=71. \]

For a neutral molecule containing carbon, hydrogen, and one bromine atom, the maximum hydrogen count is \(m=2n+1\). Thus

\[ 0\le71-12n\le2n+1, \]

which gives

\[ 5\le n\le\frac{71}{12}<6. \]

Therefore \(n=5\) and \(m=11\): the product has formula \(\ce{C5H11Br}\), and the original hydrocarbon has formula \(\ce{C5H12}\).

There are three constitutional isomers of this hydrocarbon:

Hydrocarbon SMILES Number of constitutional monobromination products
Pentane CCCCC 3
2-Methylbutane CC(C)CC 4
2,2-Dimethylpropane (neopentane) CC(C)(C)C 1

Pentane has three inequivalent hydrogen positions: the terminal methyl groups, the adjacent methylene groups, and the central methylene group. 2-Methylbutane has four inequivalent hydrogen positions.

In neopentane, the central carbon carries no hydrogen, and all four methyl groups are equivalent. Replacing any of its twelve hydrogen atoms therefore gives the same product.

The balanced monobromination equation, under radical conditions, is

\[ \ce{C(CH3)4 + Br2 ->[h\nu] (CH3)3CCH2Br + HBr}. \]

Here bromine, BrBr, produces 1-bromo-2,2-dimethylpropane (neopentyl bromide), CC(C)(C)CBr, together with hydrogen bromide, [H]Br. The organic product is achiral, so no stereochemical distinction is required.

Its molar mass confirms the result:

\[ M(\ce{C5H11Br}) =(5\times12+11\times1+80)\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}} =151\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}, \]

\[ \frac{151}{29.0}=5.2069\approx5.207. \]

The solution was checked against the official solution.