Diazomethene (CH_2N_2) on decomposition forms singlet methylene (":"CH_2) which gets attached to different non-equivalent C-H bonds of alkanes formed when pentane (CH_3CH_2CH_2CH_2CH_3) reacts with singlet methylene. Assuming methylene to be highly reactive and less selective, calculate the probable amounts the formed alkanes.

Diazomethene (CH_2N_2) on decomposition forms singlet methylene (":"CH

1.	Diazomethene (CH_2N_2) on decomposition forms singlet methylene (":"CH_2) which gets attached to different non-equivalent C-H bonds of alkanes formed when pentane (CH_3CH_2CH_2CH_2CH_3) reacts with singlet methylene. Assuming methylene to be highly reactive and less selective, calculate the probable amounts the formed alkanes.
Answer» SOLUTION :Three alkanes are formed when pentane reacts with singlet methylene because there are three non-equivalent `C-H` bonds in pentane molecule. So, the alkanes formed are: `underset("hexane")(CH_(3)CH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(3))` `underset("2-methylpentane")(CH_(3)overset(overset(CH_(3))(\|))(C)HCH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(3)) " " underset("hexane")(CH_(3)CH_(2) overset(overset(CH_(3))(\|))(C)HCH_(2)CH_(3))` As methylene is HIGHLY reactive and less selective, its insertion occurs in a random fashion. So, the amounts of the formed compounds are CALCULATED on the basis of probablility factor and number of equivalent `C-H` bonds. For example, PERCENTAGE of hexane. `(CH_(3)CH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(3)) = ((6)/(12)) xx 100= 50` Percentage of 2-methylpentane `CH_(3) - overset(overset(CH_(3))(\|))(C)H - CH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(3) = ((4)/(12)) xx 100 = 33.3` Percentage of 3-methylpentane `= ((2)/(12)) xx 100 = 16.7`