What is the mechanism of the reaction between 1-bromobutane and sodium hydroxide

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Question: What is the mechanism of the reaction between 1-bromobutane and sodium hydroxide in ethanol?

Options:

Correct Answer: SN2

Solution:

The reaction proceeds via an SN2 mechanism due to the primary nature of 1-bromobutane, allowing for a backside attack by the nucleophile.

What is the mechanism of the reaction between 1-bromobutane and sodium hydroxide in ethanol?

What is the mechanism of the reaction between 1-bromobutane and sodium hydroxide in ethanol?

Step 1: Identify the reactants. We have 1-bromobutane (a primary alkyl halide) and sodium hydroxide (a strong base/nucleophile) in ethanol (a solvent).
Step 2: Understand the structure of 1-bromobutane. It has a bromine atom attached to a carbon that is connected to only one other carbon, making it a primary halide.
Step 3: Recognize that sodium hydroxide (NaOH) can act as a nucleophile because it has a hydroxide ion (OH-) that can attack other molecules.
Step 4: Determine the type of reaction. Since 1-bromobutane is a primary halide, it will undergo an SN2 reaction, which involves a single step where the nucleophile attacks the carbon atom from the opposite side of the leaving group (bromine).
Step 5: Visualize the backside attack. The hydroxide ion approaches the carbon atom bonded to the bromine from the side opposite to the bromine, leading to the formation of a new bond and the departure of the bromine as a bromide ion.
Step 6: Conclude the reaction. The result of this reaction is the formation of butanol (an alcohol) and the release of bromide ion.

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