What is the mechanism of the reaction of 2-bromobutane with potassium cyanide?

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Question: What is the mechanism of the reaction of 2-bromobutane with potassium cyanide?

Options:

Correct Answer: SN2

Solution:

The reaction proceeds via an SN2 mechanism, as 2-bromobutane is a secondary haloalkane and the nucleophile attacks from the opposite side.

What is the mechanism of the reaction of 2-bromobutane with potassium cyanide?

What is the mechanism of the reaction of 2-bromobutane with potassium cyanide?

Step 1: Identify the reactants. We have 2-bromobutane, which is a secondary haloalkane, and potassium cyanide, which provides the cyanide ion (CN-) as a nucleophile.
Step 2: Understand the type of reaction. The reaction is an SN2 reaction, which means it involves a nucleophilic substitution where the nucleophile attacks the carbon atom bonded to the bromine.
Step 3: Recognize the structure of 2-bromobutane. It has a bromine atom attached to a carbon that is connected to two other carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom.
Step 4: The nucleophile (CN-) approaches the carbon atom from the opposite side of the bromine atom. This is important because it allows for the inversion of configuration at that carbon.
Step 5: As the cyanide ion attacks the carbon, the bond between the carbon and bromine breaks. The bromine leaves as a bromide ion (Br-).
Step 6: The result of the reaction is the formation of 2-cyanobutane, where the bromine is replaced by the cyanide group.

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