In the reaction of benzyl chloride with sodium hydroxide, which mechanism is primarily involved?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
In the reaction of benzyl chloride with sodium hydroxide, which mechanism is primarily involved?
SN1
SN2
E1
E2
The reaction of benzyl chloride with sodium hydroxide primarily follows the SN1 mechanism due to the stability of the benzyl carbocation formed during the reaction.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: In the reaction of benzyl chloride with sodium hydroxide, which mechanism is primarily involved?
Solution: The reaction of benzyl chloride with sodium hydroxide primarily follows the SN1 mechanism due to the stability of the benzyl carbocation formed during the reaction.
Steps: 7
Step 1: Identify the reactants in the reaction. Here, we have benzyl chloride and sodium hydroxide.
Step 2: Understand what benzyl chloride is. It is a compound that can easily form a carbocation when it loses a chloride ion.
Step 3: Recognize that sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base that can help in the reaction.
Step 4: Know that in an SN1 mechanism, the first step is the formation of a carbocation. Benzyl chloride loses the chloride ion to form a benzyl carbocation.
Step 5: Realize that the benzyl carbocation is stable because it is resonance-stabilized by the adjacent benzene ring.
Step 6: After the carbocation is formed, the hydroxide ion (from NaOH) can attack the carbocation to form the final product.
Step 7: Conclude that the reaction primarily follows the SN1 mechanism because of the stability of the benzyl carbocation.
