RCl is hydrolysed to ROH slowly but the reaction is rapid if a cataliytic amount of KI is added to - Chemistry - Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

Question

RCl is hydrolysed to ROH slowly but the reaction is rapid if a
cataliytic amount of KI is added to the reaction mixture Explain
why?

sehrakhushwant... · Answer

KI supplies (I-) ions which are strong nucleophiles and hence
react rapidly with R-Cl to form R-I (I-) is also a better leaving
group than (Cl-) Hence R-I is hydrolysed rapidly to form R-OH and
(I-) (I-) ion is again used in converting R-Cl to R-I

Slow
R-Cl + H-OH --------> R-OH + (Cl-)

Fast Fast
R-Cl + (I-) ---------> R-I ----------> R-OH
-(Cl-) + H-OH

RCl is hydrolysed to ROH slowly but the reaction is rapid if a cataliytic amount of KI is added to the reaction mixture.Explain why?