What type of stereochemistry is observed in the product of an SN2 reaction?
Practice Questions
Q1
What type of stereochemistry is observed in the product of an SN2 reaction?
Retention of configuration
Inversion of configuration
Racemization
No stereochemistry change
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What type of stereochemistry is observed in the product of an SN2 reaction?
Step 1: Understand that an SN2 reaction involves a nucleophile attacking a carbon atom that is bonded to a leaving group.
Step 2: Identify that the carbon atom is a chiral center, meaning it has four different groups attached to it.
Step 3: Recognize that the nucleophile attacks the carbon from the opposite side of the leaving group, which is called a 'backside attack.'
Step 4: Realize that this backside attack causes the spatial arrangement of the groups around the carbon to change.
Step 5: Conclude that the result of this change is an 'inversion of configuration' at the chiral center, meaning the arrangement of the groups is flipped.
