ABSTRACT
Alkanes are relatively unreactive compounds that tend to react by substitution, the replacement of a hydrogen atom with another atom. In modern organic chemistry, this is described as C–H functionalization which is the addition of a functional group to an otherwise functionless structure. This chapter will consider the radical halogenation of alkanes. This will provide readers with tools to consider alkane substitution reactions and provide an entry point to understanding some fundamentals of reaction mechanisms, regiochemistry, and the safety and atom economy of a reaction.
