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Wurtz reaction
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Organic_chemistry/djxhxaNg">organic chemistry</a>, the Wurtz reaction, named after <a href="/facts/Charles_Adolphe_Wurtz/dn7X6EwE">Charles Adolphe Wurtz</a>, is a <a href="/facts/Coupling_reaction/L464wvvk">coupling reaction</a> in which two <a href="/facts/Alkyl_halide/Enb7LQqt">alkyl halides</a> are treated with <a href="/facts/Sodium/eYuSPu2V">sodium</a> metal to form a higher alkane. </p> 2 R−X + 2 Na → R−R + 2 NaX <p>The reaction is of little value except for intramolecular versions, such as 1,6-dibromohexane + 2 Na → <a href="/facts/Cyclohexane/FDAW5j8v">cyclohexane</a> + 2 NaBr. </p><p>A related reaction, which combines alkyl halides with aryl halides is called the <a href="/facts/Wurtz%E2%80%93Fittig_reaction/mwRo92tW">Wurtz–Fittig reaction</a>. Despite its very modest utility, the Wurtz reaction is widely cited as representative of <a href="/facts/Reductive_coupling/L464wvvk">reductive coupling</a>. </p>