Help with Haloform Reactions
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Organic Chemistry › Help with Haloform Reactions
Which of the following best summarizes the haloform reaction?
A methyl ketone is treated with iodine and
The enolate of a dicarbonyl compound attacks a beta carbon of an alkene
A carboxylic acid reacts first with 
The enolate of an ester attacks another ester
An alkyl halide reacts first with the phthalimide ion, then with
Explanation
The haloform reaction requires a carbonyl with a terminal alpha carbon. A hydrogen gets abstracted, and the enolate is formed. A halogen attacks the alpha carbon, and the ketone is reformed. This occurs three more times until the carbon has bonds to three halogens. Then the carbon leaves, forming a carbanion, and the base attacks the carbonyl carbon. An ester is formed.