What is the main mechanism of the reaction between 1-bromopropane and sodium hyd
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the main mechanism of the reaction between 1-bromopropane and sodium hydroxide in ethanol?
SN1
SN2
E1
E2
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the main mechanism of the reaction between 1-bromopropane and sodium hydroxide in ethanol?
Step 1: Identify the reactants. We have 1-bromopropane (an alkyl halide) and sodium hydroxide (a strong base/nucleophile) in ethanol (a solvent).
Step 2: Understand the structure of 1-bromopropane. It is a primary alkyl halide, meaning the carbon attached to the bromine is connected to only one other carbon.
Step 3: Recognize the type of reaction. Since 1-bromopropane is a primary alkyl halide, it is likely to undergo an SN2 reaction, which involves a single step where the nucleophile attacks the carbon and the leaving group (bromine) departs.
Step 4: Describe the SN2 mechanism. In this mechanism, the nucleophile (OH- from sodium hydroxide) attacks the carbon atom that is bonded to the bromine, leading to the formation of a new bond while the bromine leaves.
Step 5: Conclude that the reaction proceeds via the SN2 mechanism because of the primary nature of the alkyl halide, allowing for a direct nucleophilic attack.
