What is the Difference Between Geminal and Vicinal Dihalides?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between geminal and vicinal dihalides lies in the attachment of halide groups to carbon atoms within the compound:
- Geminal Dihalides: In geminal dihalides, both halide groups are attached to the same carbon atom of the compound. These compounds are also known as alkylidene halides. When geminal dihalides undergo a reaction with alcoholic potassium hydroxide (KOH), they form an alkene.
- Vicinal Dihalides: In vicinal dihalides, the two halide groups are attached to two adjacent carbon atoms in the same compound. The hybridization of the compound around the two adjacent carbon atoms bearing the halide groups can be sp, sp2, or sp3, depending on the type of covalent bonds around them. Vicinal dihalides can form hydrogen bonds with each other, stabilizing the structure, making them more stable than geminal diols. When vicinal dihalides undergo a reaction with alcoholic potassium hydroxide (KOH), they also form an alkene.
It can be challenging to distinguish between geminal and vicinal dihalides because both types of compounds give the same product (alkene) on reaction with alcoholic potassium hydroxide (KOH). However, their structures and properties differ based on the attachment of halide groups to carbon atoms.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Geminal and Vicinal Dihalides? Comparative Table: Geminal vs Vicinal Dihalides
Comparative Table: Geminal vs Vicinal Dihalides
The key difference between geminal and vicinal dihalides lies in the attachment of halide groups to carbon atoms. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences:
| Feature | Geminal Dihalides | Vicinal Dihalides |
|---|---|---|
| Halide Groups | Both halide groups are attached to the same carbon atom | Halide groups are attached to adjacent carbon atoms |
| Chirality | Compounds can be chiral if there are no two similar groups attached to the carbon atom | Compounds can be chiral depending on the substituents |
| Hybridization | Carbon atom bearing the halide groups is either sp2 or sp3 | Hybridization can be sp, sp2 or sp3 depending on the type of covalent bonds around the adjacent carbon atoms |
| Preparation of Alkynes | Both vicinal and geminal dihalides can be converted to alkenes through a double E2 reaction |
Both geminal and vicinal dihalides can give the same product (alkene) on reaction with alcoholic potassium hydroxide (KOH).
Read more:
- Geminal vs Vicinal Coupling
- Vinylic Halides vs Aryl Halides
- Allylic vs Benzylic Halides
- Halogens vs Halides
- Halogens vs Pseudohalogens
- Alkyl Halide vs Aryl Halide
- Halogen vs Metal Halide
- Hydrochloride vs Dihydrochloride
- Monatomic vs Diatomic
- Gemination vs Fusion
- Homonuclear vs Heteronuclear Diatomic Molecules
- Hemiacetal vs Hemiketal
- Hypervalent vs Hypovalent Compounds
- Enantiotopic vs Diastereotopic
- Monovalent vs Divalent
- Diastereomers vs Enantiomers
- Halorhodopsin vs Bacteriorhodopsin
- Haloalkanes vs Haloarenes
- Bromethalin vs Diphacinone