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What is the mechanism of the reaction between an alkyl halide and a nucleophile

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Question: What is the mechanism of the reaction between an alkyl halide and a nucleophile in a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) reaction?

Options:

  1. The nucleophile attacks the carbon from the opposite side of the leaving group.
  2. The nucleophile attacks the carbon from the same side as the leaving group.
  3. The reaction proceeds through a carbocation intermediate.
  4. The reaction involves the formation of a cyclic intermediate.

Correct Answer: The nucleophile attacks the carbon from the opposite side of the leaving group.

Solution: 

In an SN2 reaction, the nucleophile attacks the carbon atom from the opposite side of the leaving group, leading to a backside attack and inversion of configuration.

What is the mechanism of the reaction between an alkyl halide and a nucleophile

Practice Questions

Q1
What is the mechanism of the reaction between an alkyl halide and a nucleophile in a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) reaction?
  1. The nucleophile attacks the carbon from the opposite side of the leaving group.
  2. The nucleophile attacks the carbon from the same side as the leaving group.
  3. The reaction proceeds through a carbocation intermediate.
  4. The reaction involves the formation of a cyclic intermediate.

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

What is the mechanism of the reaction between an alkyl halide and a nucleophile in a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) reaction?
  • Step 1: Identify the alkyl halide, which is a molecule containing a carbon atom bonded to a halogen (like Cl, Br, or I).
  • Step 2: Identify the nucleophile, which is a molecule or ion that has a pair of electrons to donate and can attack the carbon atom.
  • Step 3: The nucleophile approaches the carbon atom that is bonded to the halogen from the side opposite to the halogen. This is called a 'backside attack'.
  • Step 4: As the nucleophile gets closer, it starts to form a bond with the carbon atom, while the bond between the carbon and the halogen begins to break.
  • Step 5: The halogen leaves as a halide ion (like Cl-, Br-, or I-), completing the reaction.
  • Step 6: The result is that the nucleophile is now bonded to the carbon atom, and the configuration of the carbon atom is inverted (like flipping a mirror image).
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