Explain why: (a) the rate of iodination of optically active 1-phenyl-2-methyl-1-butanone

Problem 22.13

Explain why:

(a) The rate of iodination of optically active 1-phenyl-2-methyl-1-butanone in acetic acid/ is identical to its rate of racemization under the same conditions.

(b) The rates of bromination and iodination of acetophenone are identical at a given acid concentration.

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Step 1 of 4

Chiral molecules do not possess a plane of symmetry. They give superimposable mirror images. Carbonyl compounds have  functional groups. When treated with halogens, they form alpha-halo compounds and the reaction is named as alpha-halogenation.