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Chemistry
121, Winter 2008, LA Tech
Reaction with Active Metals
Alcohols
react with Li, Na, K, and other active metals to liberate hydrogen
gas and form metal alkoxides
•Na is oxidized to Na+ and H+ is reduced to H2
•alkoxides are somewhat stronger bases that OH-
•alkoxides can be used as nucleophiles in
nucleophilic substitution reactions
•they can also be used as bases in b-elimination reactions
