What reagent is commonly used for the conversion of a haloalkane to an alcohol?

The conversion of a haloalkane to an alcohol commonly occurs through a nucleophilic substitution reaction, where the halogen group is replaced by a hydroxyl group (-OH). When using KOH (aqueous), potassium hydroxide provides hydroxide ions in solution, which act as a strong nucleophile. This allows the hydroxide ion to attack the carbon atom bonded to the halogen, facilitating the substitution reaction and leading to the formation of the corresponding alcohol.

In this reaction, the aqueous form of KOH is particularly effective because the water helps to stabilize the hydroxide ions in solution, enhancing their nucleophilicity. This process is generally conducted under conditions that favor substitution over elimination, such as using a polar protic solvent like water, which is appropriate for haloalkanes.

In contrast, other reagents listed do not effectively promote this conversion to an alcohol. For instance, alcohols would not form with sulfuric acid as it favors dehydration reactions that would lead to alkenes rather than producing an alcohol. PCl3 is usually employed for converting alcohols to alkyl chlorides, which is the opposite process of what is being asked. While KOH in alcohol might also facilitate nucleophilic substitution, it typically leads to elimination reactions