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Monday, October 5, 2020

Why does SiCl4 undergo hydrolysis whereas CCl4 doesn't?

Their is mainly two reason that's why  SiCl4 undergo hydrolysis while CCl4 Not .
First is steric hindrance , in case CCl4 Cl atoms  blocking the C atom and preventing water molecules (nucleophile) from attacking it easily. While in case SiCl4 , Si is larger than C so  there is less crowding so it is more susceptible to attack by the (water molecules) nucleophile.
Second reason is presence of vacant d orbital. Thus, Water, acting as nucleophile can attack easily at the vacant d orbital of Si and reaction will occur through penta co-ordinated transition state.But  in case of CCl4 due to the absence of d orbital and smaller size of carbon makes ligand environment more crowded and nucleophile can't easily attack to the central atom.
 

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