Haloform reaction

Definition

The haloform reaction is a chemical process where a methyl ketone is converted into a carboxylate and a haloform (a compound containing three halogen atoms bonded to a carbon atom) through the action of halogens in the presence of base. It highlights the reactivity of enolate ions formed from carbonyl compounds by alpha-substitution.

Related terms

Methyl Ketone: A type of organic compound that contains a carbonyl group (C=O) flanked by a methyl group (CH3) and another carbon-containing side chain.

Carboxylate Ion: An ion that results from the deprotonation of carboxylic acids, characterized by the presence of a negatively charged oxygen atom bonded to a carbon atom also bonded to an =O group.

Enolate Ion: An ion formed by deprotonation at the alpha carbon of carbonyl compounds, featuring resonance between a carbon-carbon double bond and a carbon-oxygen double bond