THE FREE RADICAL MECHANISM HAS BEEN SUGGESTED FOR WURTZ REACTION .

 

FOR FORMATION OF FREE RADICALS THE ALKYL HALLIDE BOND CLEAVES HOMOLYTICALLY TO PRODUCE ALKYL FREE RADICAL AND HALOGEN FREE RADICAL .

THE REACTION TAKES PLACE IN DRY ETHER MEDIUM .

 

MY QUESTION :

 

SHOULDNT THE ALKYL HALLIDE BOND CLEAVE HETEROLYTICALLY DUE TO THE ELECTRONAGATIVITY DIFFERENCE .

 

 

FIRST THE ALKYL HALLIDE BOND CLEAVES HETEROLYTICALLY TO PROCDUCE A CARBOCATION AND HALLIDE ION .

ENERGY RELEASED IN THIS PROCESS IS EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN IONISATION ENERGY OF NA SO U GET NA+ AND e- .

NA+ AND X- GIVE U NAX  AND CARBOCATION + e GIVES U ALKYL FREE RADICAL N THEN PROCEED AS SAME .