Which of the following haloalkanes is the most reactive towards nucleophilic substitution?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
Which of the following haloalkanes is the most reactive towards nucleophilic substitution?
1-bromopropane
2-bromopropane
3-bromopropane
bromobenzene
3-bromopropane is a tertiary haloalkane, which is more reactive towards nucleophilic substitution due to steric hindrance and stability of the carbocation formed.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: Which of the following haloalkanes is the most reactive towards nucleophilic substitution?
Solution: 3-bromopropane is a tertiary haloalkane, which is more reactive towards nucleophilic substitution due to steric hindrance and stability of the carbocation formed.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand what haloalkanes are. Haloalkanes are organic compounds that contain carbon, hydrogen, and halogen atoms (like bromine).
Step 2: Identify the types of haloalkanes. There are primary, secondary, and tertiary haloalkanes based on the number of carbon atoms attached to the carbon that has the halogen.
Step 3: Know that tertiary haloalkanes (like 3-bromopropane) have three carbon atoms attached to the carbon with the halogen.
Step 4: Learn about nucleophilic substitution. This is a reaction where a nucleophile (a species that donates an electron pair) replaces the halogen in the haloalkane.
Step 5: Recognize that tertiary haloalkanes are more reactive in nucleophilic substitution because they can form a stable carbocation (a positively charged carbon) when the halogen leaves.
Step 6: Understand that steric hindrance (the crowding of atoms around the reactive site) makes it easier for the nucleophile to attack the carbocation in tertiary haloalkanes.
