Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons are compounds made from carbon and hydrogen atoms joined by covalent bonds. EXAMPLES are Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkines
Properties
Important General Principles about ReactivitySaturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) are not as reactive as other hydrocarbons. Some reasons why:They have no double or triple bonds that can react with acid to form carbocations (Carey CH 6.4 and 6.10).They have no leaving groups, such as –OH, -Cl, or –Br so can’t undergo E1, E2, SN1 or SN2 reactions (Carey CH 5 and CH 8).One way to make saturated alkenes more reactive is to add –Br via free radical halogenation (Carey CH 4.14). This gives them a leaving group so they can undergo E1/E2 reactions to form alkenes, or to undergo SN1/SN2 substitution reactions. One note: alkanes, like most hydrocarbons, can undergo combustion reactions (burn in the presence of oxygen). Gasoline is an alkane.