2-Bromobutane is an isomer of
1-bromobutane. Both compounds share the molecular formula C
4H
9Br. 2-Bromobutane is also known as ''sec''-butyl bromide or methylethylbromomethane. Because it contains
bromine
Bromine is a chemical element with the symbol Br and atomic number 35. It is the third-lightest element in group 17 of the periodic table (halogens) and is a volatile red-brown liquid at room temperature that evaporates readily to form a simila ...
, a halogen, it is part of a larger class of compounds known as
alkyl halide
The haloalkanes (also known as halogenoalkanes or alkyl halides) are alkanes containing one or more halogen substituents. They are a subset of the general class of halocarbons, although the distinction is not often made. Haloalkanes are widely ...
s. It is a colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. Because the carbon atom connected to the bromine is connected to two other carbons the molecule is referred to as a secondary alkyl halide. 2-Bromobutane is
chiral
Chirality is a property of asymmetry important in several branches of science. The word ''chirality'' is derived from the Greek (''kheir''), "hand", a familiar chiral object.
An object or a system is ''chiral'' if it is distinguishable from ...
and thus can be obtained as either of two
enantiomers designated as (''R'')-(−)-2-bromobutane and (''S'')-(+)-2-bromobutane.
2-Bromobutane is relatively stable, but is toxic and flammable. When treated with a strong base, it is prone to undergo an
E2 reaction
An elimination reaction is a type of organic reaction in which two substituents are removed from a molecule in either a one- or two-step mechanism. The one-step mechanism is known as the E2 reaction, and the two-step mechanism is known as the E1 r ...
, which is a bimolecular elimination reaction, resulting in (predominantly)
2-butene
But-2-ene is an acyclic alkene with four carbon atoms. It is the simplest alkene exhibiting ''cis''/''trans''-isomerism (also known as (''E''/''Z'')-isomerism); that is, it exists as two geometric isomers ''cis''-but-2-ene ((''Z'')-but-2-ene) and ...
, an alkene (double bond). 2-Bromobutane is an irritant, and harmful if ingested. It can irritate and burn skin and eyes.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bromobutane, 2-
Bromoalkanes