Question

Convert methyl iodide into ethane.

Answer 1

1. Reduction of CH₃I by nascent Hydrogen

CH₃I + 2[H] → CH₄ + HI

2. \[\ce{2CH4 ->[Electric arc][1500\circ C] H - C ≡ C - H + 3H2}\]

3. Hydrogenation of acetylene

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{H}\phantom{...}\ce{H}\phantom{....................................}\ce{H}\phantom{...}\ce{H}\\
|\phantom{....}|\phantom{.....................................}|\phantom{....}|\\
\ce{\underset{Ethene}{H - C ≡ C - H+} ->[H2][Ni] H - C = C - H+ ->[H2][Ni] H - C - C - H}\\
\phantom{..........................................}|\phantom{....}|\\
\phantom{........................................}\ce{\underset{Ethane}{H}\phantom{.}\ce{H}}\\
\end{array}\]

Or

Methyl Iodide is warmed with Na metal in the presence of ether.

\[\ce{2CH3I + 2Na ->[dry ether] \underset{(ethane)}{H3C-CH3} + 2NaI}\]