9.2.1.2 Applications

Radical-catalyzed chlorination and bromination of alkanes take place readily, both in gas and liquid phases. Both the thermal and photochemical generation of the halogen atoms are used.

For example, cyclohexane reacts with sulfuryl chloride in the presence of dibenzoyl peroxide to give cyclohexyl chloride in 89% yield.

Similarly, the gas phase bromination of isobutane gives t-butyl bromide exclusively.