Wurtz reaction on acidic compounds Why can Na not be used for the Wurtz reaction of compounds having an acidic group like alcohol or carboxylic acid?
With alkanols, sodium will form alkoxides (and hydrogen gas).
$$\ce{2CH3OH + 2Na -&gt; 2 CH3ONa +H2 ^}$$
With alkanoic acids, sodium will form alkanoates (and hydrogen gas).
$$\ce{2CH3COOH + 2Na -&gt; 2 CH3COONa +H2 ^}$$

If your starting material contains both an $\ce{OH}$ group and a bromo substituent, the alkoxide formed upon the reaction with sodium may attack the carbon bearing the $\ce{Br}$ atom in a substitution reaction to yield a cyclic ether.