Question

Which of the following is a good method for the conversion of an alcohol into an alkyl chloride?

• A. By treating the alcohol with $SOC{l}_2$
• B. By treating the alcohol with $PC{l}_5$
• C. By treating the alcohol with $PC{l}_3$
• D. By treating alcohol with Lucas reagent

Answer 1

The correct option is A By treating the alcohol with $SOC{l}_2$

$R-OH+SOC{l}_2\to R-Cl+S{O}_2\uparrow +HCl\uparrow$
This is a good method for the preparation ​of alkyl halide​. By-products of this reaction are gaseous in nature.
This reaction follows $S{N}_i$ mechanism.​ In intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction, retention of configuration takes place​. Hence, the correct answer will be option (a).