In an S_N2 reaction, what is the stereochemical outcome when the substrate is a

Practice Questions

Q1
In an S_N2 reaction, what is the stereochemical outcome when the substrate is a chiral center?
  1. Retention of configuration
  2. Inversion of configuration
  3. Racemization
  4. No stereochemical change

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

In an S_N2 reaction, what is the stereochemical outcome when the substrate is a chiral center?
  • Step 1: Understand that an S_N2 reaction involves a nucleophile attacking a substrate.
  • Step 2: Identify that the substrate has a chiral center, which means it has a specific 3D arrangement of atoms.
  • Step 3: Recognize that the nucleophile attacks the substrate from the opposite side of the leaving group.
  • Step 4: Realize that this backside attack causes the configuration at the chiral center to flip.
  • Step 5: Conclude that the result of this reaction is an inversion of configuration at the chiral center.
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