Which of the following compounds can undergo an SN1 reaction?
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following compounds can undergo an SN1 reaction?
1-bromopropane
2-bromopropane
3-bromopropane
Bromobenzene
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following compounds can undergo an SN1 reaction?
Step 1: Understand what an SN1 reaction is. It is a type of nucleophilic substitution reaction that involves two main steps.
Step 2: Identify the first step of an SN1 reaction, which is the formation of a carbocation. This happens when the leaving group (like bromine) departs, leaving behind a positively charged carbon atom.
Step 3: Determine the stability of the carbocation that forms. Tertiary carbocations (attached to three other carbon atoms) are more stable than secondary or primary carbocations.
Step 4: Check the structure of 3-bromopropane. It has a tertiary carbon (the carbon attached to the bromine is connected to three other carbons).
Step 5: Conclude that since 3-bromopropane can form a stable tertiary carbocation, it can undergo an SN1 reaction.
